Drunk flyer accused of assaulting cop over check-in delay

Dubai: A passenger has been accused of getting drunk and flashing his middle finger to an airline staff and assaulting a policeman over check-in delay.

The 37-year-old British passenger, who was flying from Dubai to Birmingham, had arrived at the gate to finalise check-in procedures to board an the Emirates flight in July. The passenger gave his passport to the ground staff but was asked to wait, according to records. The Briton returned shortly after and started behaving rowdily. He launched a series of curses at an Indian ground staff and used foul language against him and his mother.

The passenger then flashed his middle finger and threatened to have him fired from his job saying he is a British citizen and has influence. He then filmed the staffer with his mobile phone without the Indian’s consent.

When a policeman was called to the gate, the British man cursed the cop, stepped on his foot and pushed him. He also threatened to have the policeman dismissed from service.

The Briton was taken into immediate custody.

Prosecutors have charged him with assaulting and offending a policeman and threatening to have him dismissed. He was also charged with cursing the Indian staffer, indecently gesturing in public, threatening to have him sacked and filming him with his mobile phone.

“I was too drunk at the time. I do not really recall what happened,” said the British suspect as he entered a not guilty plea before the Dubai Court of First Instance on Monday.

The suspect repeatedly told presiding judge Habib Awad that he was too drunk and could not remember what happened during the July 14 incident.

The Indian ground staff claimed to prosecutors that the suspect got angry and behaved rowdily after he was asked to wait to finalise his boarding procedures.

“He cursed me and my family. He spoke very badly about my mother. He also flashed his middle finger in front of all the passengers. He shouted loudly ‘I am British and I can have you fired from your job and send you back home’. He also took out his phone and filmed me in a way that angered other passengers,” he testified to prosecutors.

The policeman claimed to prosecutors that when he was summoned to the gate, the suspect cursed and assaulted him.

“I was dispatched to check on a rowdy passenger at 7am. Once I reached the gate at concourse B, the suspect got angry because he was asked to wait. Once I introduced myself as a policeman, he cursed and threatened me saying ‘I am British and I will cause you trouble and smash your face’,” he testified.

After being apprehended, the Briton was cited admitting to prosecutors that he drank before he went to the airport at 3am and then cursed and offended the staffer and the policeman.

A ruling will be heard on October 11.