A passenger who allegedly tried to storm a plane cockpit and open the aircraft doors while in mid-air appeared in court today.
Chloe Haines, 26, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, allegedly assaulted a member of cabin crew as they tried to restrain her on the Jet2 flight that left Stansted airport on June 22.
She appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, charged with one count of assault by beating and one count of recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or person in an aircraft.
The charges relate to Haines allegedly causing a disturbance on the flight to Dalaman in Turkey, which forced the pilot to return to Stansted.
Two RAF fighter jets were scrambled to meet the plane and chaperone it back to Stansted, where Haines was arrested by Essex Police upon landing.
On board the flight, a cabin crew member allegedly suffered scratches as she tried to prevent Haines from opening the plane door.
Jet2 fined Haines £85,000 and barred her from flying with them ever again. Passengers waiting to return from Dalaman to Britain had to stay overnight and return to the airport the following day.
In court, Haines, with her hair worn up and wearing a black top, spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth, address and British nationality. She did not enter pleas during the 10-minute hearing.
District Judge Timothy King granted Haines conditional bail on the grounds that she does not travel from any UK airport.
He sent her case to Chelmsford Crown Court, where she is due to appear on December 18.
Additional reporting by PA Media
