A drunk passenger on a Ryanair flight operated by Buzz has been jailed for ten months after an abusive mid-air rant where he screamed "I'm savage, I drink JD" and defiantly declared "You can't tell me what to do, I'm English." Stephen Blofield, 61, from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, caused such alarm that the captain was forced to abandon an initial landing attempt at Bristol Airport.
Intoxicated Behaviour Sparks Widespread Fear
Bristol Crown Court heard that Blofield had been drinking double measures at Krakow Airport before boarding the flight on November 11 last year. As the Boeing 737 approached Bristol, his behaviour deteriorated dramatically, with multiple passengers describing him as loud, volatile, and repeatedly swearing. The cabin crew and fellow holidaymakers feared for their safety throughout the incident.
Defiant Refusal of Safety Instructions
When cabin crew asked Blofield to sit down and fasten his seatbelt – basic safety requirements during landing – he responded with his now-infamous declaration: "You can't tell me what to do, I'm English." He also screamed to fellow passengers "I'm savage, I drink JD," referring to Jack Daniels whiskey. His refusal to comply with safety instructions was so severe that the pilot had to abort the first landing attempt.
Prosecutors noted that the cabin around Blofield was visibly fearful, with several passengers recording the incident on their mobile phones. The disruption continued until the plane finally managed to land, at which point police boarded the aircraft and arrested Blofield.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Blofield appeared at North Somerset Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the incident. He was subsequently sentenced at Bristol Crown Court, where Judge Euan Ambrose described his behaviour as "extraordinarily abusive."
The judge told Blofield: "You were drunk when you got on board and you continued to drink while on board, becoming increasingly drunk during the flight. Your behaviour deteriorated, you became disruptive and aggressive and refused to follow basic safety instructions from the crew."
Specific Charges and Criminal Record
The four charges against Blofield included:
- Entering an aircraft while drunk
- Failing to obey the lawful commands of the pilot to remain seated "for the purpose of securing the safety of the aircraft"
- Behaving in a threatening, abusive, insulting or disorderly manner towards a member of aircraft crew
- Using threatening abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to other passengers
The court heard that Blofield has an extensive criminal record and is on benefits. He pleaded guilty to all charges, acknowledging his responsibility for the dangerous and disruptive behaviour that endangered both passengers and crew.
Impact on Flight Operations
The incident highlights the serious consequences of disruptive behaviour on aircraft. Blofield's actions not only caused fear among passengers and crew but also directly interfered with the safe operation of the aircraft. By ignoring the captain's lawful demands and refusing to follow safety protocols, he created a situation that required emergency measures.
Judge Ambrose emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that Blofield "caused great concern and fear amongst fellow passengers and also fear and alarm to the crew" and that his behaviour was such that "the first attempt at landing into Bristol had to be aborted."
When police finally approached Blofield after landing, they found him "drunk, aggressive, confrontational and extraordinarily abusive towards them," completing a picture of sustained disruptive behaviour that spanned from the airport bar through to the aircraft cabin and eventual arrest.
