Key Points

• 56-year-old David Kelly received a prison term of 10 months at Newcastle Crown Court as he pleaded guilty to being drunk on a Jet2 flight from Turkey to Newcastle and of carrying out a racially and religiously aggravated public order offence that entailed shouting racist abuse, making a Nazi salute and calling a Turkish passenger a terrorist on 19 December of the previous year.
• Anthony Morrison-Taylor had to pay a fine of £500, £750 compensation to an air steward and £750 in prosecution costs for abusing an airline crew member on an easyJet flight from Bristol to Newcastle in February 2024 because he was denied more alcohol.
• Britto Lorence received an 18-month community order consisting of 150 hours of unpaid work and he had to pay £914 in costs and victim surcharges for exposing himself and performing a sex act under a blanket near a mother and her baby child on an Emirates flight from Dubai to Newcastle in June of the previous year.
• After causing her own hair extensions to come off, being disruptive and fighting with another passenger during a Ryanair flight headed for Newcastle, Caitlin Anderson was found guilty of disorderly behavior and was fined a total of £1,477, which included £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £591.
• In front of his young daughter, Kevin Chapman assaulted his partner while consuming vodka during an overnight TUI flight from Crete to Newcastle. He was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment but suspended for 12 months.
• Christopher Wilkinson was fined a total of £405 that comprised £300 fines, £85 costs, and a £120 victim surcharge for shouting and swearing onboard a Jet2 flight after drinking five pints before boarding his morning flight from Newcastle International Airport.
• Following his abusive and disruptive behavior at the business class section of an Emirates flight from Newcastle Airport to Dubai, Shaun Hewitt was handed a two-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months, and he was also ordered to pay £150 in costs.

Newcastle (Newcastle Times) October 3, 2026 – The holiday experiences of numerous North East passengers have been severely disrupted over recent months by unruly, aggressive, and intoxicated travelers onboard flights operating to and from Newcastle International Airport. According to detailed court reports compiled by reporter David Huntley of Chronicle Live, a series of criminal incidents ranging from drunken abuse and racial harassment to public indecencies have resulted in multiple individuals being hauled before magistrates and crown courts to face custodial sentences, hefty fines, and community service orders.

How have disruptive passengers ruined flights for holidaymakers at Newcastle Airport?

Boarding a commercial aircraft for a holiday is traditionally viewed as the commencement of a relaxing getaway, but a minority of disruptive and heavily intoxicated passengers have repeatedly ruined the experience for fellow holidaymakers and crew members. As reported by David Huntley of Chronicle Live, boisterous and argumentative behavior onboard aircraft has frequently led to severe flight disturbances, police interventions, and, in some cases, near-diversions. Over the past several months, local courts across the region have dealt with a series of high-profile aviation offences originating from flights connected to Newcastle.

What were the details of the racist abuse incident involving David Kelly?

Among the most severe cases detailed by reporter David Huntley of Chronicle Live is that of 56-year-old David Kelly. Newcastle Crown Court heard that on December 19 of the previous year, Kelly was a passenger on a Jet2 flight traveling from Turkey to Newcastle when he became heavily intoxicated and offensive.

As reported by David Huntley of Chronicle Live, Kelly committed a racially aggravated public order offense directed at airline staff and fellow passengers, alongside making a homophobic remark. Among his disruptive actions, Kelly stated “Hitler knew” and proceeded to make a Nazi salute. Furthermore, he pointed directly at a Turkish passenger, labeling him a terrorist. Kelly, who holds four previous convictions relating to arson and drug offenses, pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and a racially aggravated public order offense. Consequently, Judge or the court sentenced him to 10 months in prison.

How was easyJet passenger Anthony Morrison-Taylor penalized for abusing cabin crew?

In another incident covered by reporter David Huntley of Chronicle Live, foul-mouthed passenger Anthony Morrison-Taylor targeted an air steward after being refused further alcohol on an easyJet flight traveling from Bristol to Newcastle in February 2024.

As reported by David Huntley of Chronicle Live, Morrison-Taylor drew the attention of cabin staff because he appeared visibly intoxicated. When flight staff informed him that he could not purchase any more alcohol, he responded aggressively. When staff reiterated the reasoning behind the refusal, Morrison-Taylor stated:

“You can all f*** off, I’m getting alcohol and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

At a sentencing hearing in March, Morrison-Taylor was given a £500 fine, ordered to pay £750 in compensation to the abused air steward, and required to pay an additional £750 toward prosecution costs.

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What happened during the indecent exposure case involving Britto Lorence?

A long-haul Emirates flight from Dubai to Newcastle in June of the previous year also became the scene of a serious criminal act. According to reporter David Huntley of Chronicle Live, perverted passenger Britto Lorence sat beside a mother and her young infant child.

As reported by David Huntley of Chronicle Live, the mother got up to prepare a feed for her child and noticed that Lorence had a blanket over his lap while performing an indecent sex act. Lorence was subsequently apprehended and sentenced to an 18-month community order incorporating 150 hours of unpaid work. In addition, the court ordered him to pay a total of £914 in costs and a victim surcharge.

Why was Caitlin Anderson arrested on a Ryanair flight to Newcastle?

A Ryanair flight bound for Newcastle saw dramatic scenes when passenger Caitlin Anderson pulled out her own hair extensions during an onboard outburst. As reported by reporter David Huntley of Chronicle Live, Anderson’s behavior forced flight crew to contact police prior to landing.

As reported by David Huntley of Chronicle Live, Anderson had been disruptive toward staff, engaged in an altercation with another passenger, and pulled out her own hair in what was later described in court as “acting weirdly.” Upon landing, police boarded the aircraft and arrested Anderson. She was initially transported to a hospital over concerns that she had consumed a substance contributing to her behavior. Anderson, residing on Govanhill Street in Glasgow, was issued a £1,477 fine, alongside £85 in costs and a £591 victim surcharge.

How did Kevin Chapman’s vodka-fuelled outburst affect his family flight?

On an overnight TUI flight returning from a family holiday in Crete, intoxicated father Kevin Chapman assaulted his partner. As reported by reporter David Huntley of Chronicle Live, Chapman had been consuming vodka onboard when an argument broke out between him and his girlfriend.

As reported by David Huntley of Chronicle Live, Chapman suddenly struck the victim in the face in full view of an off-duty police officer who was traveling as a passenger. Cabin crew intervened to separate the couple, moving the woman to a different seat for her own safety. Although discussions occurred regarding diverting the aircraft, the flight ultimately landed at Newcastle International Airport as scheduled. Chapman received a four-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 12 months.

Why were Christopher Wilkinson and Shaun Hewitt removed from their flights?

In separate incidents involving intoxicated behavior prior to takeoff, two men faced legal repercussions. As reported by reporter David Huntley of Chronicle Live, Christopher Wilkinson booked a last-minute trip to Corfu but consumed five pints of alcohol while waiting to board his morning Jet2 flight at Newcastle International Airport.

As reported by David Huntley of Chronicle Live, Wilkinson began shouting and swearing inside the cabin as the aircraft waited to depart. He refused to step off the plane when instructed by cabin crew, prompting police intervention. Wilkinson, a resident of Olive Street in South Shields, pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft and received a £300 fine, £85 in costs, and a £120 victim surcharge.

Similarly, Shaun Hewitt was ejected from an Emirates flight bound for Dubai as it prepared to leave Newcastle Airport. As reported by reporter David Huntley of Chronicle Live, police officers on duty heard Hewitt remarking “there’s the coppers and the CID” around 2 pm before he took his seat in the business class section. When police boarded the aircraft due to his disruptive conduct, Hewitt responded aggressively, stating:

“What have I done wrong?”

and telling officers,

“Why are you talking to me like that. F*** off,”

alongside other profanities. Hewitt, of Prince Edward Road in South Shields, who holds seven previous convictions for violent disorder and being drunk and disorderly, pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft. He was sentenced to two months imprisonment suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £150 in costs.

Background

The recent influx of criminal prosecutions involving disruptive passengers at Newcastle International Airport highlights a broader, ongoing challenge within the commercial aviation sector across the United Kingdom. Incidents involving disruptive, abusive, and intoxicated passengers have historically placed immense strain on flight crews, emergency responders, and judicial systems.

Under UK aviation law, specifically the Air Navigation Order, being drunk on an aircraft or behaving in a threatening, abusive, or insulting manner towards crew members constitutes a serious criminal offense punishable by substantial fines and imprisonment. Over recent years, aviation authorities, airport operators, and airlines—including Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, and Emirates—have adopted zero-tolerance approaches toward disruptive behavior. Campaigns promoting responsible drinking in airport terminals and increased collaboration between airlines and local police forces, such as Northumbria Police, have aimed to curb alcohol-related incidents. Despite these concerted preventative measures, seasonal spikes in holiday travel continue to witness isolated high-profile cases requiring direct intervention from magistrates and crown courts in the North East.

Prediction

This ongoing wave of judicial prosecutions and high-profile incidents is likely to heighten scrutiny surrounding passenger behavior and alcohol consumption policies at airports across the United Kingdom. For holidaymakers, families, and regular travelers utilizing Newcastle International Airport, these developments may lead to tighter security measures, stricter monitoring of alcohol sales within airport terminals, and more aggressive enforcement by cabin crews and local law enforcement.

While these stringent measures aim to enhance safety and protect passengers from aggressive or anti-social behavior, they may also result in increased vigilance and reduced tolerance for minor disturbances during boarding and mid-flight operations. Consequently, travelers can anticipate an environment where airlines and airport authorities swiftly involve police officers and pursue maximum legal penalties for any individual whose conduct threatens the comfort and safety of fellow passengers.