A drunk passenger who shouted sexually explicit comments and tried to touch a 13-year-old girl during an easyJet flight has appeared in court following a disturbing mid-air incident.
The incident happened on an easyJet flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Belfast International Airport in November last year. A court later heard how passengers and cabin crew had to intervene after the man’s behaviour became increasingly aggressive and inappropriate during the flight.
Alcohol-Fuelled Behaviour at 35,000ft
The defendant, Ramiz Idrizi, 38, from Woodvale Avenue in Dublin, had been drinking heavily during the easyJet flight.
Ballymena Magistrates’ Court heard he had consumed most of five small bottles of wine before his behaviour escalated.
Around 30 minutes before landing, the mother of a young girl noticed Idrizi repeatedly kicking the back of the seat where her daughter was sitting.
Prosecutors told the court that the man then made a sexual remark, shouting “I’m horny,” before reaching forward between the aircraft wall and the seat in front in an attempt to touch the girl’s leg. The child immediately jumped up from her seat in shock.
Fellow Passenger and Crew Intervene
A nearby passenger saw what he later described as “a flash of a hand” near the child’s seat and quickly stepped in.
Concerned about the situation, the man offered to swap seats with the girl to create distance between her and Idrizi.
When confronted about his behaviour, Idrizi allegedly became verbally abusive towards the passenger who intervened.
Witnesses also told the court that earlier in the flight, the defendant had been behaving erratically, spitting, talking to himself and drinking alcohol while disturbing other passengers. Cabin crew were alerted to the situation and quickly moved to manage the disruption.
According to testimony heard in court, the crew stopped serving alcohol and asked the man to hand over his remaining wine and move seats. He refused both requests.
Instead, the crew moved other passengers away from him to prevent the situation from escalating as the aircraft continued its descent into Belfast. Witnesses also reported seeing Idrizi punching the aircraft wall during the final stages of the flight.
Court Rejects His Defence
During the trial, Idrizi admitted he had been drunk and accepted he had used abusive language.
However, he denied attempting to touch the girl. He claimed the only time he reached forward was when he grabbed the seat in front while standing up.
District Judge Nigel Broderick rejected that explanation after hearing evidence from multiple passengers and cabin crew members. The judge ruled that their accounts were credible.
Idrizi was found guilty of attempting to sexually assault the child and assault by beating after attacking the passenger who intervened.
He was acquitted of a separate allegation relating to another female passenger on the flight.
The court ordered a pre-sentence report before deciding on punishment. Idrizi was granted bail and is due to return to court later this year for sentencing.
© Confessions of a Trolley Dolly