A drunken passenger who caused terror on a Jet2 flight from Turkey to the UK has been jailed for 18 months after threatening crew members and abusing police officers upon arrival.
Aggressive Mid-Flight Outburst
On March 13, Bradford Crown Court heard that Jason Roddis, 37, from Bradford, caused chaos two hours into a night flight back to Leeds Bradford Airport.
Prosecutor Ben Sayers explained that Roddis had been loud, aggressive, and using foul language after consuming alcohol from a bottle of wine he had brought onto the plane.
Despite cabin crew confiscating the bottle, he continued drinking from a second bottle, leading to complaints from other passengers.
When a crew member tried to issue Roddis with a “disruption notice,” he ripped it up and threw it back at them.
At one point, he turned to a flight attendant and shouted:
“I’ll smash your face in.”
He then threatened another crew member, saying:
“I’ll smash your head in.”
Pilot Considered Emergency Landing
Roddis’ behaviour became so aggressive that the pilot considered diverting the plane to remove him.
However, with just 30 minutes left in the flight, they decided to continue to Leeds Bradford Airport, where police were waiting to arrest him.
Arrest and Additional Charges
Upon landing, Roddis was found heavily intoxicated and unsteady on his feet.
During his arrest, he directed racial abuse at an officer and damaged a police van.
Criminal Record and Sentencing
Roddis has a history of 42 convictions for 89 offences, including theft and violent offences.
He pleaded guilty to:
- Being drunk on an aircraft
- Common assault against two cabin crew members
- Racially aggravated harassment
- Criminal damage
Recorder Patrick Palmer sentenced him to 14 months in prison for the flight incident.
An additional four months were added after Roddis admitted to stealing a woman’s handbag from a parked car in Bradford in December last year.
Defence and Mitigation
Roddis’ barrister, Rebecca Young, argued that he had been in Turkey caring for his mother after a hip replacement and had struggled with severe anxiety and depression.
She stated that he was unable to access his medication while abroad, leading to increased stress and excessive drinking.
Judge’s Final Remarks
Recorder Patrick Palmer emphasised the seriousness of Roddis’ actions, stating that:
- The cabin crew feared for their safety
- Fellow passengers were terrified
- His behaviour was completely unacceptable
Jet2 has zero tolerance for disruptive behaviour, and this conviction reinforces the severe consequences for passengers who endanger flights.
