EasyJet air hostess relives terror of drunk holidaymakers threats

EasyJet air hostess, 41, relives her terror as she confronted two holidaymakers drunk on whisky and brandy who threatened her in bid to jet on Tenerife flight as they face jail

• Jemma Grieves, from Wigan, has worked on airlines for around 18 years 
• Glynn Martin, 44, and Jason McKiver, 42, were granted unconditional bail
• At Bolton magistrates’ court, the pair admitted using threatening behaviour
• Miss Grieves said she was in ‘genuine fear’ that she would be ‘physically hit’ 

An EasyJet air hostess has relived her terror in court at having to tackle two burly holidaymakers who threatened her as they tried to board a plane to Tenerife whilst drunk on whiskey and brandy.

Jemma Grieves, 41, was said by one passenger to have a ‘look of fear on her face’ when Glynn Martin, 44, and Jason McKiver, 42, who both could barely stand up straight due their intoxicated condition, began hurling abuse when they were refused entry on board the aircraft.

During their boorish outburst Martin got in Miss Grieves’s face, pointed his finger towards her and said: ‘I know you, I will remember what you look like.’ 

Easyjet hostess Jemma Grieves, 41, has relived her terror in court at having to tackle two burly holidaymakers who threatened her as they tried to board a plane to Tenerife whilst drunk on whiskey and brandy

Bolton magistrates’ court heard that Glynn Martin, 44, (left) and Jason McKiver, 42, (right) who both could barely stand up straight due their intoxicated condition, began hurling abuse when they were refused entry on board the aircraft

Then, as the pilot intervened McKiver yelled: ‘I am going to get on this f****** aeroplane – and you’re not going to stop me.’

Police were summoned to departure gate 9 at Manchester Airport after Capt David Etchells managed to distract McKiver and got him off the jet by asking for his boarding pass which he had left in his walk-on bag on the bridge.

Both men later admitted drinking up to eight brandies and whiskies in a VIP lounge ahead of their flight.

In a statement taken immediately after the incident Miss Grieves, from Wigan, who works as a cabin crew manager for the budget airline, said: ‘I have worked on the airlines for 17 or 18 years and though I’ve dealt with conflict before I have never felt as badly intimidated as I did today due to the way those two males acted towards me.

‘I felt helpless and I feel so relieved that the captain was at hand to help me. But I was worried about what might have happened if things had escalated. 

Miss Grieves, who said she ahs worked on airliens for 17 or 18 years, said although she had dealt with conflict before she had never felt so badly intimated due to the way Martin adn McKiver behaved towards her 

‘I was in genuine fear of how the behaviour of those two males changed and I thought I was going to be physically hit.

‘It unnerved me so much and affected me so badly I had to withdraw from the flight. It is the first time I have done this due to how bad I was feeling. 

Miss Grieves said she did not feel she could have provided a good service to passengers had she had to travel following the incident. 

At Bolton magistrates court, Martin, of Bispham, Blackpool, and McKiver, of Lytham St Annes, Lancs, admitted entering an aircraft when drunk and using threatening behaviour.

The incident occurred at 3.45pm on October 15 last year after the pair, who are close friends, made their way to fight EZY1903 following their drinking binge.

Miss Jane Deakin, prosecuting, said: ‘The cabin crew were made aware that both defendants had been drinking and may not be suitable to fly. 

‘Miss Grieves and Capt Etchells stood at the front of the aircraft to meet Mr Martin and Mr McKiver as they boarded.

‘Mr Etchells watched them both stumble by the air bridge to the aircraft and it seems they could barely stand up. Miss Grieves tried to communicate this to the defendants but they insisted that they were flying and that they were just going to go to sleep.

‘They then became aggressive when informed that they were unfit to fly. 

‘Mr Martin shouted at Miss Grieves in her face and in her personal space, pointing his finger towards her and saying ‘I know you, I will remember what you look like.’

‘Mr McKiver was also aggressive towards the crew. The captain saw both men making physical threats towards Miss Grieves and stood in between them and said they would not be boarding the flight. He said that was the decision of the caption, it was final.

‘Both men were pushing the captain in the shoulder. The captain told them to stop touching him. He said he felt they were trying to antagonise him. The captain shouted to other crew to call the police.

McKiver (right) and Martin (left) later admitted drinking up to eight brandies and whiskies in a VIP lounge ahead of their flight, before pushing the captain on the shoulder 

‘Mr Martin left saying, ‘You do not want to spend another night in the clink’ but Mr McKiver remained at the aircraft and continued to be aggressive saying: ‘I am going to get on this f****** aeroplane, you’re not going to stop me.’

‘He tried to push past the captain to get to a seat but Mr Etchells attempted to calm him down and in order to distract him he asked to see his boarding pass. Mr McKiver had left his bag on the bridge and went retrieve his boarding pass but in doing so the captain quickly jumped off the aircraft and instructed the crew to pull the barrier across so that Mr McKiver could not go back onto the aircraft.’

Officers arrived and both men were detained. 

In his statement Capt Etchells said: ‘I am deeply concerned about the safety of my crew and passengers and if this was to happen again I may not have the skills or ability necessary to protect those I am responsible for.

Martin’s lawyer Dave Charnley said his client travels the country with his employment in the medical field and that the men had drunk about eight short drinks of whisky- brandy mixers during a ‘lengthy wait’ at the airport before trying to board the flight

‘I often have flashbacks at night which are disturbing my sleep and I am on edge in public places. I wish I could have acted sooner to prevent the abuse Miss Grieves received.’

Martin had 19 previous offences on his record while McKiver had 13.

Martin’s lawyer Dave Charnley said his client travels the country with his employment in the medical field. He said that the men had drunk about eight short drinks of whisky- brandy mixers during a ‘lengthy wait’ at the airport before trying to board the flight.

Mr Charnley said: ‘I don’t want to diminish anything but understandably, if somebody is looking forward to their holiday, they have been given their tickets and then told they are not going, it’s a natural reaction that they are going to question that decision.

‘He was upset and voiced that upset by making some comments. He made no attempt to physically get past the lady Jemma Grieves, it’s all verbal. ‘

Miss Grieves said she did not feel she could have provided a good service to passengers had she had to travel following the incident and that it ‘unnerved’ her

For father-of-two McKiver, Miss Arisha Gulhati said his client had been engaged in a custody battle over his children and added: ‘He has previously had no issues getting on planes having had a drink. He was anticipating getting on board and falling asleep until they got to their destination.

‘It was a well earned holiday as far as he was concerned having been through what he had gone through over the previous three months. Mr McKiver would say he was passionate about how he felt and wanted an explanation.’

Martin and McKiver were both granted unconditional bail pending the preparation of background reports and will be sentenced in October.

‘These matters are very serious, they have at least passed the custody threshold,’ Chairwoman Rahila Akram told them: ‘Having said that, all options will be open, including committing the case to crown court for sentence.’

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