Sameer Khan, from Knightsbridge, London, became “disruptive” during a flight from Mumbai to Heathrow and told a flight attendant “if you want violence, I can and I will give it to you”, a court heard
A drunk passenger told a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant if “if you want violence, I can and I will give it to you” as he threatened and insulted cabin crew on a long haul flight, a court heard.
Sameer Khan became so “disruptive” during the nine-hour flight from Mumbai to Heathrow Airport that cabin crew members considered physically restraining him so he would stay in his seat, a judge sitting at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday.
The married 38-year-old made “derogatory and misogynistic comments” to the female cabin crew members, who intervened to try to get him to leave the bar area after other passengers complained about the noise he was making, and it became clear he was intoxicated.
He subsequently pretended to record and photograph the two female crew members on board the Virgin Atlantic flight on June 27, claiming “Virgin Atlantic are all racists” and repeatedly asking them “do you know who I am?”.
When his behaviour continued and flight attendant Abby Hendrick thought it necessary to inform the captain of the aircraft, Khan walked up to her and said: “If you want violence, I can and I will give it to you.”
Judge Kathryn Verghis, presiding over Khan’s trial, said: “You admitted to drinking about a pint of beer before the flight. In any view, the alcohol clearly affected your behaviour. It’s incredibly upsetting, both for the staff and the passengers.
“Your behaviour was completely unacceptable,” the judge added. Prosecutor Rachel Dudley told the court Khan’s behaviour began bothering fellow passengers about three hours into the flight, when he started to swear loudly in the first-class bar area of the aircraft, asking: “Where is the party at?”
He was repeatedly asked by Ms Hendrick and by the flight’s services manager Tracy Howard to go back to his seat, but ignored their requests, intimidating them by standing “very close” and accusing them of racism.
Khan, who lives with his wife in a flat in Knightsbridge, central London, was warned by cabin crew they would have to call the police if he continued to behave aggressively, but he “took delight in ignoring the crew’s and captain’s orders”, she told the court.
The two flight attendants as well as two independent witnesses also reported that Khan behaved aggressively toward his wife, Cayla Louw, who accompanied him on the plane.
Ms Hendrick said: “He was shouting at her. I heard him call her a ‘f****** immigrant’. She was upset and crying.” Ms Louw, who testified for the defence, denied Khan had been abusive towards her, verbally or physically, and said the other witnesses had lied. However, Judge Verghis dismissed her evidence. “She saw little of the prolonged incident, and what she claims is contrary to what the other witnesses say.
“She has clearly come here to help him,” the judge said. After Khan threatened one of the flight attendants that he “could and will get violent”, the crew made contact with the police a Heathrow, asking them to be present on arrival for assistance. The businessman, whom the court heard works with “various companies involved in finance and investments”, was arrested as he disembarked from the plane at Terminal 3.
He was charged with one count of “behaving in a threatening, insulting, or disorderly manner towards a member of aircraft crew”, and a second count of “failing to obey the lawful command of the pilot”. He denied both charges but was convicted at the end of his summary criminal trial on Wednesday afternoon. The judge fined him £1,000 and ordered him to pay a further £1,050 in costs and surcharge. She also asked that he pays £100 each to Ms Hendrick and Ms Howard in compensation.
