The woman who disrupted a Jet2 flight to Turkey mid-flight by trying to open the plane door screaming, “I’m going to kill you all,” was sentenced to two years in prison on Feb. 12.
On top of her sentence, 26-year-old Chloe Haines received a $111,000 bill from flight operator, Jet2, to cover the expenses of the incident including an escort by two jet fighters back to London’s Stansted Airport.
Judge Charles Gratwicke, who presided over Chelmsford crown court, Essex, said: “Those that are trapped in the confined space of the aircraft will inevitably be distressed, frightened and petrified by the actions of those who in a drunken state endanger their lives,” ITV reported. “For some,” he added, “it will be their worst nightmare come true.”
However, as Haines’ attorney, Oliver Saxby attested, “She (Haines) wasn’t just drunk, she was unwell,” he said as it was clear she was having mental problems and was on medication as well. Saxby added: “She’s appalled, she’s ashamed, she’s deeply embarrassed by what she did. She’s disgusted with herself.”
But Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, was adamant about it. “Ms. Haines’ behavior was one of the most serious cases of disruptive passenger behavior that we have experienced, and we have banned her from flying with us for life,” he said in a statement, CNN reported.
Speaking to The Sun, Amy Varol, 24, who sat two rows behind the offending passenger on the flight to Dalaman, described the moment the woman “had her hands on exit door” before crew members pulled her to the ground.
“The woman was walking down the aisle when she literally ran to the exit door,” Varol said.
“She had her hands on the handle, trying to open it. Luckily there was two cabin crew there who pulled her off the door.”
TWEET 2/2
by 4 people and my brother and cousin.. it’s awful everyone’s screaming and crying. Now we’re back at stansted waiting for the police to come and get her! I will get to turkey!!!
— Amiy Varol (@AmiyVarol) June 22, 2019
Varol, a community care worker, told The Sun the woman was restrained after she attacked fellow passengers and cabin crew, and later threatened to kill everyone.
“That’s when she started screaming ‘get off me,’ ‘I’m going to kill everyone.'”
“The whole plane started screaming as the crew tried to get her off the door. Everyone all of a sudden jumped up and panicked,” she explained.
Two Royal Air Force (RAF) jets escorted the plane back to Stansted Airport after it was forced to turn around following the disruption.
Epoch Times reporter Isabel van Brugen contributed to this report
