Business-class Drunk Threatened to Stab Pilots with Broken Glass

A drunken American businessman flying in business class went berserk on a British Airways flight to London, lurching around the cabin, cursing, spitting and threatening to stab flight attendants and pilots with a smashed glass.

Tim Bradley, 32, is said to have abused fellow passengers and spat at crew after he was refused more alcohol.

Reported to be a mortgage consultant from Phoenix, Arizona, Bradley knocked back several glasses of wine and beer during the 9 hour 40 minute flight from Phoenix to Heathrow.

London’s Sun newspaper quoted a terrified passenger seated near Bradley as saying Bradley stumbled around the cabin swearing and at one stage entered the galley and pushed the flight manager about, demanding to know why he couldn’t be served more wine.

Bradley is said to have staggered back to his seat holding a broken glass, muttering and threatening to stab the pilots.

He was arrested on the tarmac as soon as Flight 288, a B747, landed at Heathrow.

Bradley was charged with being drunk on an aircraft and common assault. BA issued a terse statement: “We do not tolerate abusive behaviour towards our staff or customers.”

His drunken outburst is reminiscent of the disgraceful behaviour of New York investment banker Gerard Finneran in 1996.

Finneran screamed obscenities and yelled repeatedly for more alcohol while on United Airlines from Buenos Aires to New York. Finally, after threatening a flight attendant with violence when no alcohol arrived, Finneran demonstrated his displeasure by leaping from his seat and defecating on a food trolley. Finneran, however, was not travelling in business class – he was flying first class.

The Bradley incident comes a week after a case in the UK involving a holidaymaker who bit, kicked and punched two flight attendants after going berserk on a delayed Thomson Airways flight from Manchester to the Dominican Republic.

In that incident, charity worker Carol Close, 45, became so abusive that her husband had to be moved away from her for his own safety – followed by passengers sitting nearby. Close had to be forcibly restrained and handcuffed. In court, her lawyers explained that their client suffered from anxiety and depression, leading the magistrate to spare her a jail term. Those sitting near Close may have suffered from a dose of anxiety and depression as well.

Written by : Peter Needham (Source: eglobaltravelmedia.com.au August 2011)