Dubai: A passenger was jailed for six months for jeopardising a plane’s safety with his unruly behaviour and threatening to blow up the aircraft after being denied more liquor.

The 68-year-old Bahraini passenger boarded the Dubai-bound flight from Bahrain airport, where he was believed to have purchased liquor in January 2015.

The accused acted rudely when a Moroccan stewardess refused to serve him more liquor and blocked his way as he tried to move from the plane’s economy section to the business class.

The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the defendant on Sunday to six months in jail.

Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal ordered jail wardens to take the defendant, who was present in court, into immediate custody.

The accused was convicted of posing a risk to the plane’s safety and that of the passengers when he claimed that he was carrying explosives that he would detonate after take-off. He was also accused of breaching the stewardess’ modesty by making indecent gestures. The incident happened in mid-air. The accused will be deported after serving his punishment, said presiding judge Jamal.

The court also referred the accused to the Dubai Misdemeanours Court where he will be tried for possessing and consuming liquor.

The defendant entered a not guilty plea and contended that he was under medication.

The Moroccan crew member said the incident took place 15 minutes after take-off.

“First he asked me to serve him liquor although he was holding in his hand a beer that he had purchased from the Bahrain airport’s duty free. I refused because he seemed drunk. When he acted rowdily and misbehaved, we immediately warned him that his actions were against the aviation laws. We tried to calm him down. Some of the passengers looked scared when he shouted that he had explosives and that he wanted to blow up the aircraft.

“When I prevented him from walking into the business class, he got angry and pushed me. The accused insisted on being served more alcohol. We tried to restrain him as per the captain’s directives … he stood up and said he wanted to go to the rest room. When he reached the washroom door, he looked towards me and asked me to join him. When I asked if he had any special case that required assistance, he moved his body suggestively,” she told prosecutors.

Records said the passenger was carrying a bag full of alcohol bottles that he had purchased from the duty free in Bahrain.

Sunday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.