A man grabbed a stewardess by the neck after she warned him to be careful upon seeing him out of his seat during the landing of a flight. Colin Smith, 51, was travelling to Malta with his partner for a prearranged 50th birthday celebration when the cabin crew member spotted him standing up after the seatbelt signs were switched on.
She thought he was going to use the toilet and warned him to be careful because the plane was landing, but was met by a ‘vacant’ stare from Smith. He then grabbed her by the neck with both hands, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
The woman managed to get away from him before he tried to hit her again. In an attempt to defend herself, she pushed Smith back. He fell onto two seated passengers, and was restrained.
