A drunk passenger who exposed herself in front of other travellers on a flight to Florida has been warned she could face jail.
Sarah Parker, 30, got out of her seat during take-off from Birmingham Airport despite being told by the pilot to remain seated. She then pulled down her shorts and underwear in the aisle, exposing herself in full view of other passengers, a court heard.
Flight diverted to Manchester
The Tui flight, travelling from Birmingham to Melbourne, Florida, was forced to divert to Manchester Airport following the incident on July 24, 2025.
Prosecutor Edward Downes told magistrates in Manchester on Tuesday that Parker had been intoxicated during the flight.
“Her behaviour was distressing to passengers, causing danger. She was exposing her genitals in view of the passengers,” he said.
He added that the diversion had caused significant disruption, with financial losses estimated at £20,000.
Guilty pleas and court referral
Parker, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, has pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, being drunk on an aircraft and failing to follow the pilot’s instructions.
The public decency charge stated that she pulled down her shorts and underwear, squatted and exposed herself in front of other passengers. She also admitted failing to obey a lawful instruction to stay in her seat after being told to do so.
Mr Downes asked magistrates to send the case to Crown Court, arguing they did not have sufficient sentencing powers to deal with the offences.
Sentencing scheduled
Chairman of the magistrates Elliot Taylor agreed and sent the case to Minshull Street Crown Court. Parker is due to be sentenced on December 1.
Penalties for public indecency can range from a fine to imprisonment, depending on the circumstances and harm caused. Being drunk and disruptive on an aircraft can also carry a fine of up to £5,000 and a maximum prison sentence of two years.
