History Forum / General / British History / July 2008

DSH
Lux et Veritas et Libertas
Vires et Honor

Drunken passengers force flight to land in Germany

Sat Jul 26, 11:47 AM ET
AP

BERLIN - Two drunken British women went on a rampage on a charter plane,
hitting one flight attendant with a bottle of vodka and trying to open a
cabin door as the aircraft was cruising over Austria at 10,000 meters
(32,800 feet), police said Saturday.

The staff on the flight from Greece to England eventually forced the women
back to their seats and the pilot made an emergency landing in Frankfurt on
Thursday, police told The Associated Press, confirming a statement they had
issued on Friday.

The identities of the women, aged 26 and 27, were not released, but police
said the 26-year-old may be charged with attempted assault and interfering
with air traffic.

Both women were released, police said.

The rampage occurred when a flight attendant denied the women alcohol
because they were visibly intoxicated, police said. The 26-year-old took a
swipe at a cabin attendant with a bottle of vodka, then attempted to open a
cabin door.

"Apparently the 26-year-old wanted to catch some fresh air," the statement
said, in an effort to make light of the altercation.

The two women were taken into custody by police at the Frankfurt airport and
given a breathalyzer test. Both were legally intoxicated.

After an hour in Frankfurt, the flight continued on to Manchester, England.