Drunk Freebird passenger sparks chaos as he vomits and refuses to get off plane - The Mirror

Adam McDermott had boarded an early evening Freebird flight at Newcastle International Airport but the crew soon realised he was drunk as the 36-year-old threw up in his seat

An intoxicated passenger sparked flight chaos after he was sick in his seat just as the plane was about to take off before he point point-blank refused to get off the aircraft.

Adam McDermott had boarded an early evening Freebird flight at Newcastle International Airport but crew quickly spotted he was intoxicated. They were then compelled to call police as the 36-year-old threw up in his seat whilst the aircraft was preparing for departure, a court heard.

An officer came aboard and asked McDermott to disembark, but he declined and started staggering about, prosecutors said. The constable was then obliged to call for reinforcements as he led McDermott off the flight and into the gate area, whilst he continued to be uncooperative and offensive.

Due to McDermott's severe intoxication, he had to be put in a wheelchair to remove him from the airport, reports Chronicle Live. McDermott, of Bleasdale Crescent, in Houghton-le-Spring, has since attended Newcastle Magistrates' Court where he admitted being drunk on an aircraft.

Prosecutor Glenda Beck informed the court that crew aboard an 8.10pm Freebird flight called police at 8.05pm on June 24 this year following reports of an inebriated passenger who had been sick. Mrs Beck said: "The crew reported that the defendant needed to be offloaded.

"An officer boarded and made an announcement that the passenger in seat 15D, which was the defendant, needed to make his way to the front of the aircraft. The defendant didn't move from his seat.

"The officer had to approach him and noticed vomit stains on his shirt. He said the crew didn't wish him to fly due to him being so intoxicated. The officer said he needed to leave but the defendant refused."

The court was told that McDermott was slurring his speech and was occasionally incoherent as he began to stagger down the aisle, almost toppling onto another traveller in the process. He then carried on resisting as the officer removed him from the aircraft, down the steps and into the terminal building.

Mrs Beck added: "The defendant had to be put in an airport wheelchair but he refused to lift his legs and purposefully trailed his feet along the floor to make it difficult to push him in the wheelchair."

McDermott, who has a prior conviction for attacking an emergency worker, was eventually escorted from the building and detained. Meanwhile, the flight was held up by 40 minutes.

The court was told that McDermott had been the victim of a serious assault eight months previously and was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which was worsened by air travel. He was permitted to continue his journey on the same flight two days later.

Magistrates postponed the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. He was granted bail to appear back at the same court on October 10.