British passenger facing jail for 'drunken' behaviour on Dubai flight
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A female British passenger whose drunken behaviour caused a scene on a Dubai to Heathrow flight is facing jail over the incident.
A court in Uxbridge this week heard how Bela Chopra, 39, drank gin from a bottle, swore at cabin crew, tried to take food from other passenger's plates, and ranted loudly on the Emirates flight.
According to the Mirror, prosecutor Nikki Onuma-Elliott said: "As the aircraft was taxiing, she got out of her seat and said very loudly that she needed to go to the ladies."
Chopra was asked to sit down and told she was not allowed to leave her seat during take-off.
But she drunkenly ranted: "I just want the f***ing music on."
Ms Onuma-Elliott added: "She took a bottle from her handbag, and poured some gin into a plastic cup, which she consumed quickly. She started taking food from other people's plates and also opening a packet of cigarettes.
"When approached by other passengers and members of staff, she used the f-word."
Chopra reportedly continued her aggressive behaviour even after receiving a formal warning from the captain, and was arrested when the flight landed at Heathrow on 18 June.
She has since apologised and blamed her behaviour on a lack of sleep, and using alcohol to sooth her fear of flying.
She admitted being drunk on an aircraft and will be sentenced at crown court.
See more air-rage incidents below:
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- What, no champagne?<p> In January 2012, a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Costa Rica had to be diverted because a couple from Germany reportedly refused to sit down unless they were given champagne. The pair, who were seated in first class, denied the incident, but Delta Airlines captain took the precaution of making a diversion to Florida, where they were removed from the flight.</p>
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- Why won't this door open?<p> In May 2011, terrified passengers on board an Easyjet plane had to overpower a British man who twice tried to open a cabin door mid-flight at 35,000ft between Krakow, Poland and Edinburgh. Witnesses said the the man lunged for the door handle but was quickly tackled by staff and fellow passengers as the aircraft's pilots were forced to land at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. </p>
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- The stir-crazy stewardess<p> It's not just passengers who go a bit mental when they're on a plane. Back in March, one airline stewardess appeared to completely lose the plot when she started screaming about 9-11 and how the plane was going to crash. American Airlines flight 2332 from Dallas was taxiing along the runway when the attendant suddenly started screaming hysterically. Terrified passengers had to pin her down and the plane returned to base, where police arrested her, still kicking and screaming.</p>
- Switch that *@@!£$ing light off!<p> In July 2012, a passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight faced legal charges after he exploded into an expletive-ridden tirade against a woman in front of him - because she wouldn't turn off her reading light. The 50-year-old man, who was on a flight from Honolulu to Bellingham International Airport in Washington, threatened to keep kicking the back of her chair is she didn't turn off the light.</p>
- Lap dance, anyone?<p> In August 2011, passengers travelling to London from Moscow on a bmi flight got more than they bargained for when a drunk female passenger started performing erotic dances in the aisles. The Airbus had to return to Domodedovo half an hour after take off when the woman started "harrassing" passengers. The woman was subsequently removed from the flight and taken to hospital for medical tests. The airline said it was considered fining her for the delay...</p>
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