Omar Edwards, a 26-year-old man from Bow, east London, has been sentenced to five months in prison and ordered to pay £2,400 in compensation to victims on board a plane after being found guilty of assault and abusive and violent behaviour towards cabin crew. The incident occurred on a flight from Jamaica to London Gatwick on 12 November 2022. Edwards was the first to board the aircraft and was seen grabbing items from seats in an area of the plane he was not travelling in before using his vape in the toilet, having previously been warned about vaping on board the outbound flight from London Gatwick.
After being challenged by cabin crew workers, Edwards became abusive and swore at them before snatching a carton of juice and trying to walk away. He then assaulted a member of the cabin crew. Edwards’ behaviour was so poor throughout the incident that he was given an official warning by the captain on board. The court heard that his actions caused alarm and distress to other passengers on the flight.
A spokesperson for Gatwick Police said that Edwards’ case highlights the importance of ensuring airline workers are not abused by passengers, and that offenders will be prosecuted. This sentiment was echoed by Crawley Magistrates’ Court, where Edwards received his sentence in recognition of the seriousness of his actions and the need to maintain a safe and respectful environment for all passengers and airline staff.
In addition to his prison sentence and compensation order, Edwards has also been fined £500 and required to pay court costs. The incident serves as a reminder to all airline passengers of the importance of following crew instructions and behaving appropriately while on board. Failure to do so not only puts cabin crew workers at risk but can also result in serious legal repercussions for passengers
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