An oil and gas worker has been banned from stepping foot in Aberdeen International Airport after being charged with drunkenness and threatening behaviour onboard a plane.
Jason Harris, 54, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court following his removal from a BA1307 British Airways flight from Aberdeen to London on Wednesday.
The flight was delayed on the tarmac for an hour and a half while Harris was ejected from the flight and arrested by police.
The offshore worker now faces seven charges, including entering the aircraft while drunk, leaving his seat as the aeroplane taxied before take-off and shouting swearing and acting in an aggressive manner towards the cabin crew.
Harris is also accused of assaulting a police officer and attempting to head-butt him.
According to the charges, the 54-year-old then allegedly kicked another officer, resisted arrest and behaved in a threatening or abusive manner.
He denies all the charges.
However, as a condition of his bail, Harris is now prohibited from entering Aberdeen International Airport and could face an additional ban from British Airways from all of its flights.
His defence solicitor, Kevin Longino argued that an airport ban would “simply force him into unemployment”.
He added: “He works in the offshore industry and is required to fly in and out from the heliport, which is in Aberdeen International Airport.
“Mr Harris is a contracted worker which means that about once a month he has to pass through the airport.”
The British Airways flight was due to take off from Aberdeen at 10.45am on January 5 bound for Heathrow.
The aircraft was on the runway and about to take off when Harris allegedly refused to comply with the flight crew’s instructions.
This resulted in the aircraft remaining on the runway for over an hour while the 54-year-old was removed from the flight.
However, the flight was delayed by another 30 minutes because the passenger’s luggage had to be taken off.
‘I have to consider public safety’
Sheriff Graham Buchanan told Harris that he had to take “public safety into consideration” when making his decision and described the charge of being threatening or abusive to cabin crew as a “matter of considerable concern”.
“I’m thinking about the safety of the public travelling by aircraft”, he said.
“I have to have consideration of a lot of things, not just Mr Harris’ employment but also the public.”
Sheriff Buchanan then imposed the condition that the 54-year-old is not allowed to enter Aberdeen International Airport.
Harris, of the Isle of Wight, will appear again to face trial later in the year.
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