'Ashamed' plane passenger strapped to seat after downing half a bottle of rum

A drunk plane passenger had to be strapped down to his seat when he became "disruptive" after downing half a bottle of Captain Morgan’s rum.

Mohammed Ridwan Ali, 28, was travelling back from Bangladesh to Manchester Airport when he was heard arguing with his sister on March 6. Tensions then escalated mid-flight when he began hurling abuse at other travellers shortly after 6pm.

Shocked crew members took action after he began "staggering" around the plane. He was restrained to his seat until cops at Greater Manchester Police arrived at the airport. Appearing at Manchester Court, Ali was reprimanded for his actions. A judge told him: “I’m not convinced you really understand how inappropriate this behaviour was and I don’t think you are really sorry about it.”

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Prosecuting, Elle-Louise Fradley said officers described Ali to be "agitated" ahead of his arrest. Officers said he smelt strongly of alcohol. They also said his eyes were glazed and his speech was slurred, reports Manchester Evening News.

Ms Fradley said: “The crew reported that the defendant was consuming alcohol during the flight. He then had a verbal disagreement with his sister.

"At the point of the verbal altercation, he became volatile and shouted at other passengers and was unsteady on his feet. They decided to restrain him for the remainder of the flight.”

Later when the crew searched his bag they found a 1.5 litre bottle of Captain Morgan’s which was half empty. No statements were given by the crew at the time, but they told officers they "simply wished for the defendant to be removed from the aircraft".

Representing Ali, Olivia Davin, said he was "embarrassed and ashamed". She said: “He tells me he was stabbed to the chest in July last year, was in a coma, then received intense physiotherapy to relearn how to walk again. He suffered two cardiac arrests at the time."

As a result he has since "self medicated" with alcohol, the barrister added. She described the incident as a "wake-up call".

Sentencing, Recorder David Wood said: “Being drunk on an aircraft is a criminal offence because the danger a volatile passenger can cause to the aircraft is considerable. You had to be tied down to your seat. They would not have done that if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”

Ali, of Elsdon Road, Longsight, was handed 12 weeks in prison which was suspended for a year. He must also complete 10 rehabilitation activity requirements, an alcohol treatment programme and pay a £250 fine. He had previously pleaded guilty to entering an aircraft when drunk.