Two men who were involved in drunken brawl' on TUI flight could face 20 years in jail.
The tourists from the UK are facing federal charges in the US after allegedly starting a drunken fight after a trip to Cancun, Mexico where they had been on holiday.
The TUI fight was headed to Manchester but the pilot diverted the aircraft to Bangor International Airport after allegedly getting involved in a mid-air disturbance.
Anthony Joseph James Kirby and Damien Jake Murphy, who are both 36, face charges of interference with flight crew members and attendants and assault in a special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
The Daily Star reports a third man was taken off the plane with Kirby and Murphy, but has not been charged and is not identified in court documents.
Flight staff had refused to serve alcohol to the group, but one of them is reportedly said to have retrieved a bottle of alcohol from a carry-on bag and they drank from it.
A Federal Bureau of Investigation report on the alleged fracas reads: “During the flight the men became loud and disruptive.
“While the aircraft was over Florida, Kirby, Murphy and the third man made racist comments to the crew and passengers while filming their interactions with the crew and the other passengers with their cameras. The behaviour caused the flight crew to change seats.”
Murphy is alleged to have pushed a flight attendant who tried to defuse the situation.
And after the plane landed at Bangor, Kirby is said to have attacked a passenger sitting three seats ahead of him.
Kirby and Murphy appeared in court on January 3, in front of US Magistrate Judge John Nivison.
The US attorney’s Maine office, which is prosecuting the case, asked both men to be held without bail until their cases are resolved.
The two accused have reportedly agreed not to apply for bail.
A spokesperson for TUI said: "We can confirm that TOM193 diverted into Bangor, Maine due to disruptive passengers on board the flight from Cancun to Manchester on 1st January 2023.
"The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our highest priority, and we have a zero tolerance policy to disruptive behaviour on our flights. The customers involved were offloaded and the flight then continued its journey home shortly after.
"We take all security matters of this nature extremely seriously and will continue to assist the FBI with their investigation."
If convicted, the men could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 (£200,000) on the charge of interference with flight crew and up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 (£82k) on the assault charge.
