British holidaymakers arrested over 'vicious' mass mid-air brawl at 30,000 feet

[Bangyai]

Nearly a dozen British holidaymakers and flight crew were questioned by police after a large mid air brawl broke out on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Barbados.


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Virgin Atlantic passengers in a police vehicle at Grantley Adams International Airport Photo: NATION NEWS



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The family are understood to have been celebrating Zoe King's birthday on the Caribbean island. Photo: ALAMY



By Andrew Hough, and Paul Thompson in Miami
11:45PM BST 10 Jun 2011


On Friday, three members of the same family, who had been drinking, were fined £2300 by a court and banned from ever flying with the airline after they admitted their part in the fight that occurred at 30,000 feet.

Martin and Zoe King and her father Derek Edmonds, 76, pleaded guilty to being part of the “vicious” brawl, which occurred towards the end of the eight-hour flight.

Bridgetown magistrates’ court, Barbados, was told that the brawl started on the Virgin Atlantic flight VS29, after a Danish family complained about the noise the trio were making as they celebrated Zoe's birthday.

Passengers, including families with young children, looked on in horror as the row quickly descended into violence amid fears the plane was being hijacked by terrorists.

They told how Martin King, 49, and his wife apparently started throwing punches, and throwing hot coffee, at members of the family in front of them.

As the flight crew desperately attempted for up to an hour to contain the fracas in the rear of the plane, the pilot radioed ahead asking for police to meet the flight upon landing.

The pilot then ordered the 229 passengers and 16 crew to remain in their seats for the final hours of the flight.
“It was unbelievable, it was like something out of a movie,” said passenger Elsa Brandford, 70.
“I saw a woman shout ‘you swore in front of my child’. She said it about 6 times, each time louder than the last one. She said ‘and it’s my birthday’."
“It was vicious. It was frightening. There were punches going off in all directions. I never expected to see something like that."
Another passenger, who did not want to be named, added: "When the fight first started I thought it was an act of terrorism."
The trio were arrested after their flight from Gatwick Airport landed at Grantley Adams Airport, on the Caribbean island, late on Thursday afternoon.
More than a dozen officers met the flight and about 10 people, including crew, were questioned by police.
Zoe King was seen leaving the plane with her arm in a sling and her husband was sporting a black eye. Police said the trio appeared to be drinking for most of the flight.
"There appeared to be a birthday celebration that got too noisy,” said police spokesman Inspector David Welch.
"There were words exchanged several times with a Danish family and it developed into a fight,"
On Friday, the Kings, from Coulsdon, south London and Edmonds, from Woodhall Spa, Lincs, pleaded guilty to one count each of causing a disruption on a plane.
They escaped jail and were allowed to continue with their holiday. They faced up to two years in prison or a fine if convicted.
They declined to comment outside court.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesman said on Friday night: "Following police investigations three passengers have been fined.
“These passengers will now be banned from Virgin Atlantic flights."
The three tourists were told to make their own arrangements back to Britain.
The other passengers and crew involved in the flight were released on bail.


British holidaymakers arrested over 'vicious' mass mid-air brawl at 30,000 feet - Telegraph

[Bangyai]

Pretty disgraceful behaviour and just what you don't need after a long flight. Considering the potential danger , the airline should pass the guilty parties details to other carriers and slap a ban on them flying for a while until they can act a bit more civilized.

[Bung]

Why were they allowed to get so drunk on a flight?

[English Noodles]

Why were they allowed to get so drunk on a flight?

There will come a time in the not so distant future when all air travel will be dry.

[dirtydog]

^^Maybe have to pay for booze on virgin, the profits are too good to turn down?

[Loy Toy]

and slap a ban on them flying for a while until they can act a bit more civilized.

and her father Derek Edmonds, 76,

Wouldn't want to whack a ban on Derek for too long.

I don't think he has too many air miles left in him.

[English Noodles]

Wouldn't want to whack a ban on Derek for too long. I don't think he has too many air miles left in him.

Let him catch a boat, fuck him.

[blue]

No upgrade him to first class for the return leg !
standing up for your rights, even erroneously, is what makes Britain great
Imagine the 9 -11 filghts , a few skinny Arabs with pen knives trying to hi jack a plane full of bladdered up British holiday makers
that 76 year old lad would have cracked a drinks tray over mohamuds head

[English Noodles]

that 76 year old lad would have cracked a drinks tray over mohamuds head

He would have been too busy throwing hot coffee over a family sitting in front of him.

[Periphiral Vision]

No upgrade him to first class for the return leg !
standing up for your rights, even erroneously, is what makes Britain great
Imagine the 9 -11 filghts , a few skinny Arabs with pen knives trying to hi jack a plane full of bladdered up British holiday makers
that 76 year old lad would have cracked a drinks tray over mohamuds head

That would be no contest, trying to stop the Brits from getting straight on the piss when they land is not a good idea.
"Come ere you bearded little fanatical twat, I will get you up to those 70 virgins right now"

[jizzybloke]

Oh well we were both wrong, saw this but in the article i read they didn't say where the Brit family were from.

My mate said Basildon and I guessed Orpington.

[English Noodles]

Is Martins middle name Luther?

[Lorenzo]

British trash

[somtamslap]

They told how Martin King, 49, and his wife apparently started throwing punches, and throwing hot coffee, at members of the family in front of them.

Probably happens every week, they just did it at the wrong place on this occasion. Shoot them, shoot them in the fucking knee caps with a double barrelled ICB - that should put an end to their, erm, lives..

[aging one]

A one way ticket back is going to set them back a pretty penny. Idiots.

[Bettyboo]

It was obviously the fault of the Danes; biased reporting...

[koman]

There was a time (the good old days) when people like this were left marooned on a very small waterless island with just a single bottle of rum........

[Ambrosia]

British trash

And they call Americans seppos...go figure.

[bobo746]

Pissed poms on a plane now that's a suprise.Throw the wankers out half way back.

[larvidchr]

"Zoe King was seen leaving the plane with her arm in a sling and her husband was sporting a black eye."

[bobo746]

^ copped an arse kickin from the danes

[CB79]

^ copped an arse kickin from the danes

It's not something you lot could do though eh?

I've never met a single Aussie who could hold his hands up.