Members of a James Bond film crew triggered an international air alert after going on a drunken rampage during a private flight to Mexico, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Around 150 Spectre stunt men, camera crew and technical workers were on board the chartered Airbus A330 travelling from London Stansted to Mexico City for the shooting of an ambitious opening scene based on the annual Day of the Dead festival. The US Federal Aviation Administration is now reportedly investigating claims passengers vomited and urinated in the aisles, smoked cigarettes, abused crew members and even removed a pin securing one of the cabin doors while close to American air space. The latter incident, if confirmed, is said to have conceivably put the lives of everyone on board in danger, as well as those travelling in other planes in a similar location.
A source told the Mail on Sunday: “The behaviour of a handful of crew members got out of hand and made things very unpleasant for their fellow passengers. [Bond production company] Eon has apologised to all the crew members who had to endure this intolerable behaviour.”
An Eon spokesperson said: “We are investigating the matter so cannot comment further at this time.”
The crew members were travelling to Mexico earlier this month for a two-week shoot described by Bond producer Michael G Wilson as the “biggest opening sequence we’ve ever done”. Wilson told Empire: “The whole vision that Sam Mendes has come up with is very exciting and amazing. We’ve got 1,500 extras in Day Of The Dead costumes and makeup and we’ve occupied the centre of Mexico City for days. The only thing that’s come close to it was putting on the carnival in Rio in Moonraker, and I think this is a much bigger operation.”
The scene will also feature a chase through the parade and a fight within a helicopter.
According to the Mail on Sunday, the Airbus A330 had to be professionally cleaned after the journey from Stansted at a cost of more than £1,000 (Dh5,429). The crew will be only allowed to fly home later this week after promises from Eon that no alcohol will be imbibed on board. None of the cast members for Spectre, which stars Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Monica Bellucci, Ralph Fiennes and Lea Seydoux, were believed to be on board.
As well as Mexico, Spectre has been shooting in London, Rome and the Austrian Alps ahead of a October 23 release date in the UK and November 6 debut in US cinemas. Sony and MGM released the debut trailer for the 24th official Bond film late on Friday.
