A drunk passenger's abusive outburst towards cabin crew led to a Jet2 flight being cancelled, disrupting holidays for more than 300 people. Jason Mulhern, 57, from Trafford, was on the Manchester Airport to Dalaman, Turkey, flight on June 22, 2024, when his behaviour forced the captain to abort the take-off.
Abuse Towards Crew
Mulhern and his wife were preparing for departure when she commented on another passenger's accent. He joined in and began shouting, prompting cabin staff to approach them and inform them that alcohol service would be refused. Mulhern turned 'aggressive, defensive and angry', Manchester Crown Court was told.
He told staff they were 'out of order', insisting he and his wife were 'on their holidays' and wished to 'booze up'. After a further intervention and a warning from the captain that removal was possible, they appeared to accept the situation.
Nazi Slur and Arrest
As the aircraft taxied towards the runway, Mulhern hurled abuse at a crew member, calling her a 'f***ing Nazi and a c***'. He declared 'he was an adult and could do as he wished'. Prosecuting, Betsy Hindle explained that the 20-year-old crew member felt so uncomfortable she relocated while the plane was taxiing.
The captain was notified and decided to remove Mulhern and his partner from the aircraft, a move met with applause from fellow passengers. The flight aborted and taxied back to the stand, with police summoned. Officers noted Mulhern was slurring his speech and talking over them. When told he had committed an offence, he responded: "Oh f*** off", adding: "I can say whatever I want, it's a free county. If I think you're a Nazi, I'll say it."
Impact on Passengers
The flight, already delayed by two hours, was cancelled due to restrictions on safe flying hours. Three hundred passengers had to disembark and decontrol through security, and accommodation and meals had to be sought. Another 300 passengers in Turkey, due to return on the same plane, were also affected.
Numerous statements from passengers described Mulhern as 'obviously drunk' and 'verbally abusive'. One reported hearing him say: "I don't understand why I can't have a drink like a f***ing adult."
Sentencing and Consequences
Jet2 is pursuing a civil claim totalling £44,710 for expenses for hotels and delays. Lisa Judge, defending, asked the court to view the incident as being at the 'lowest level of culpability' given the absence of physical violence, noting Mulhern's previous service in the Armed Forces had led to 'self-medicating' with alcohol.
Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: "Your conduct caused the plane to be delayed again. Your conduct alone was responsible for the loss of that day's flight. A flight that everyone's holidays had to be deferred, everyone had to make alternative arrangements, everyone had to be put up in hotels. You ruined or potentially ruined every other person's holiday who boarded that flight. That was the impact of your single behaviour."
Mulhern, of Jewel Close, Urmston, received an eight-month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months, five days of rehabilitation activity requirements, a 120-day alcohol abstinence order, 300 hours of unpaid work, and a £500 court costs payment. He also faces a lifelong ban from flying with Jet2.
