A mother-of-one who unleashed a violent, drink-fuelled rampage on a packed holiday flight to Cuba has been spared an immediate prison sentence. Zoe Alexander, 36, punched, kicked and bit cabin crew and fellow passengers during a 90-minute outburst aboard a TUI jet travelling from Manchester to Cuba in August 2022.
Court hears details of the incident
Manchester Crown Court was told that Alexander, who had been drinking brandy, became increasingly aggressive and abusive. Prosecutor Blaise Morris said she was 'talking loudly, slurring her words and being overly familiar with passengers and cabin crew'. She requested brandies to 'knock her out', sprawled over other passengers, and demanded an extra meal.
When a female crew member told her not to enter premium areas, Alexander called her a 'f****** b**** c***.' Her behaviour deteriorated six hours into the flight, leading to verbal abuse of passengers in her row. One concerned mother pressed the assistance button due to her children's safety.
Violence escalates
Alexander 'flew into a rage' when a crew member suggested she watch a film. She wagged her finger in the crew member's face, refused to calm down, and later pulled off a crew member's tie, punched him in the stomach, and said 'F*** you.' She also tried to light a cigarette and repeatedly hit the TV screen while shouting abuse.
Crew member Gerard Taylor brought a restraining kit and attempted to reason with her, but Alexander kicked out at another crew member, Bethan Winters. She was eventually restrained until the plane landed, having punched and bitten Mr Taylor on the hand as he tightened handcuffs. She also lashed out at a passenger, Graham Murphy, telling him: 'I hope bad things happen to your children. I hope they die.'
Victim impact
In victim impact statements, crew described the incident as the most frightening in their careers. One flight attendant with 30 years of experience said it was 'the most frightening incident' she had experienced. Mr Murphy said the ordeal was 'truly traumatic' for him and his children.
Alexander, of Hornchurch, Essex, initially denied charges but changed her pleas to guilty on the first day of her trial in March. She admitted being drunk on an aircraft and three counts of assault by beating.
Mitigation and sentence
Her barrister, Eleanor Gleeson, said Alexander suffered from mental health issues, including an emotionally unstable personality disorder, and that alcohol was a factor. She was 'horrified' by her behaviour and recognised its impact. Ms Gleeson pleaded for a suspended sentence, noting Alexander was the sole carer for her one-year-old son and also cared for her father.
Judge Paul Mason told Alexander her behaviour was 'inexcusable, obnoxious and aggressive' and that similar cases had resulted in immediate jail terms 'every single time'. He said she was 'out-of-control, erratic, unpredictable and a danger to the other 300 passengers'. However, he imposed a five-month sentence suspended for 18 months, banned her from foreign travel for 12 months, and ordered 20 rehabilitation days, a 90-day alcohol abstinence requirement, and £75 compensation for each victim.
Context: calls for airport alcohol restrictions
The case comes after Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary called for a ban on early morning airport drinking, arguing that airlines are forced to divert flights almost daily due to drunken passengers. However, JD Wetherspoon boss Sir Tim Martin countered that his customers do not cause disruption on flights.
