A mum who attacked three British Airways flight attendants who denied her Bloody Marys was en route to a rehab clinic in South Africa.
Emma Langford, 47, lashed out at crew and smashed plates and glasses on board during the flight from Heathrow to Cape Town with her son.
She was planning on checking into a 'drying out' clinic after a period of heavy drinking following the breakdown of her marriage and fears she would see her children put into care.
Isleworth Crown Court today heard how just 35 minutes after take-off Langford approached members of staff saying she was “thirsty” and demanded huge amount of alcohol.
After being given one, she returned to her seat but came back and launched a tirade of abuse - asking staff if they could afford her £8,000 seats and calling two female stewards fat.
She then punched customer service manager Matthew Richardson before punching another member of cabin crew, Poppy Haines.
She later shoved a third member of staff, Monique Fogel, against the aircraft door before throwing a tray of plates and glasses to the floor - one of the shards cut Miss Fogel’s leg.
Prosecuting, Douglas Adams said: “About 30 minutes after take off the defendant came to the galley and she saw raiser her voice and was agitated. She was saying that she had been on the plane for ages and was thirsty and wanted a drink.
“The manager asked the customer not to speak to his crew in such a fashion. He could smell alcohol on her and so asked if she had been drinking but she said no. He gave her a bottle of water and she went back to her seat.
“A few moments later she approached him again with what he said was ‘her chest puffed out.’
“She was saying she had paid £4,000 for a seat and £8,000 for two and asked if he could afford that amount but he said he would not comment.
“He was becoming increasingly concerned about the defendant’s behaviour. She was asked to calm down and return to her seat but she proceeded to run at a member of staff and chased them away.
“She grabbed the member of staff by both of her shoulders and pushed her into the door.
“She was again told to sit down and calm down but at this point she tipped out a tray of plates on the floor and some glasses.
“As the crockery was breaking it caused a small cut on another member of staff. After this she approached the manager again and cornered him and he put his hand out to protect himself but she struck him two more times.
“In relation of one of the other members of cabin crew she struck her a number of times too.
“They restrained her and gave her a violation notice to which she said ‘blah, blah, blah.
“She was later carried out using the approved techniques but she struggled and the staff were helped by and off duty police officer.”
A statement from Miss Haines, read to the court, said: “Miss Langford demanded I give her six Bloody Marys and I told her I would be serving her the one drink for now.
“She kicked me in the back of the legs and said ‘your arse is massive.’
“She called me chubby and fat arse. It was massively offensive and hurt my confidence. I felt humiliated in from of the whole cabin.”
Guy Wyatt, defending, said: “It’s striking that she was travelling to SA to book herself into residential all rehabilitation. She knew she needed it, she made enquiries and had been told that this particular clinic was best and was on her way.
"She was going through a difficult time because of a few things. The consequences of the breakdown of her marriage, anxieties of whether the children would be living with her or not.
"Those anxieties got the better of her and she crashed catastrophically into heavy drinking -something that she had done before.”
He told the court how she had been in rehab and has stayed sober since her release with the help of a 24-hour live-in sobriety companion and a bracelet which monitors her blood alcohol levels.
He added: “She can report that since coming out of residential rehabilitation progress has been pleasing and the defendant has remained sober."
In addition to the sober companion she is attending regular alcoholics anonymous meetings - that's twice a week.
“The final thing that assists with that process is that showers on her ankle a SCRAM bracelet which monitors her blood alcohol every half an hour through sweat.
“I cannot share with you that report because that bracelet has been - is being used as part of the process in the family court.”
But Judge Nicholas Wood decided to delay sentence to get hold of the reports from the bracelet and “other findings” from the family court.
He said: “While I am loathe to adjourn the case I would like to see first hand if possible the findings and reports in respect of that matter.”
Langford, of Old Baising, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to three charges of assault, one of criminal damage, and one of being drunk on an aircraft, and behaving in a threatening, abusive, insulting and disorderly manner towards cabin crew.
She will next appear at the same court on March 6.
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