In a court hearing on Wednesday, a pilot has been accused of assaulting a stewardess, threatening to blow up an aircraft and behaving rowdily after getting drunk on-board the aircraft, while off duty.
The pilot was a passenger on an Emirates flight which was flying in from Madrid.
The suspect has been charged with a number of charges, including getting drunk, behaving rowdily on-board an aircraft and threatening its safety and that of the passengers. He was additionally charged with threatening to kill the stewardess, cursing crew members and passengers and causing Dhs 10,000 worth of damage to Emirates’ property.
According to records, the off duty pilot asked the Romanian stewardess if smoking was allowed on the aircraft and when he was told that it is not allowed, he ran to the kitchen to grab two beers and started using foul language towards crew members. The crew politely asked the pilot to behave, however, he continued using foul language and also behaved rudely with a fellow passenger. When he was asked to remain seated, the pilot turned more aggressive and started to shout loudly that he would blow up the plane with explosives that he allegedly had on him. He also caused damage to the TV screen and a window, slapped the chest of the stewardess and threatened to kill her.
Police detained the suspect once the plane landed at Dubai International Airport.
The suspect asked presiding judge Fahd Al Shamsi to adjourn the case until he hires a lawyer to defend him.
The trial continues.