Fireman gets life ban for air rage flight

AN American fireman has been banned for life by Aer Lingus after an air rage incident during which he shouted abuse and sexual remarks before assaulting a steward.

John Tutor, 37, was also fined €600 and ordered to pay €400 in expenses after being convicted at Dublin District Court of air rage on an Aer Lingus flight from Chicago to Dublin.

Tutor had pleaded guilty to assault and causing a disturbance on the aircraft. Such was his behaviour that the plane’s pilot had considered an emergency landing at a Canadian air force base but carried on after a passenger and two crew managed to handcuff him to a seat.

However, he continued shouting abuse for more than six hours until the plane landed in Dublin.

The firefighter’s solicitor said Tutor had finished a 24-hour double shift ahead of the flight and had consumed a few drinks because he was a nervous flier.

Just half an hour into the flight, Tutor started shouting abuse. When he began to push the seat in front of him steward Gabriel Kenny stepped forward at which point the fireman punched him, although it was only a glancing blow. Tutor was then restrained.

His solicitor said Tutor was “very, very ashamed and very, very appalled” by his behaviour. Tutor’s unruly conduct was due to a lack of sleep combined with drink, the solicitor said.

Judge William Hamill said he took into account the three days that John Tutor had spent in custody since his arrest at Dublin Airport last Sunday.

After the court hearing, Aer Lingus said Mr Tutor had been banned from travelling on the airline for life.