EasyJet passenger punched pilot in the face when she was thrown off flight because she was found unconscious in her seat before take-off
A woman hit an EasyJet pilot after she was removed from a plane because she was found ‘unresponsive’ in her seat.
Nicola Nyamanhindi, 30, launched an attack last month after being asked to leave the EasyJet flight to Paphos from Manchester Airport.
But upon leaving the aircraft, she punched the pilot in the face – delaying the flight for some two hours while a replacement pilot was brought in.
Nicola Nyamanhindi, 30, launched an attack last month after being asked to leave the EasyJet plane to Paphos from Manchester Airport
Trafford magistrates heard how cabin crew noticed Nyamanhindi was unresponsive as they prepared for take-off, and feared she was ‘under the influence’.
They called the captain, who found her with her eyes shut and mouth open – and could not rouse her despite tapping her on the shoulder up to ’12 times’.
Nyamanhindi’s defence lawyer said at the time of the incident, her client was ‘very tired and not at her best when woken up’.
As she was sentenced, the EasyJet captain warned such disruptive behaviour was becoming more commonplace among passengers.
He said in a statement read to the court: ‘This incident seems to be typical of the nature and personality of a small amount of people travelling today.
‘It’s a small minority of passengers that cause these problems and these incidents of anti-social abuse and violent behaviour are increasing and have caused a change to company policy and staff training. I have become far more aware that the threat to cabin crew safety has increased over the last few years.
‘Neither they or I should have to endure verbal or physical abuse of any type, or disruptive behaviour towards anybody.’
Prosecuting, Tina Cunnane said Nyamanhindi finally opened her eyes during the incident and was asked to join the captain on the aircraft steps.
Staggering, her eyes were ‘glazed, unfocused and unnatural’ – but when asked if she had taken medication or drugs, she replied, ‘am I allowed to go or not?’
The flight from Manchester to Paphos was delayed for some two hours last month following the assault, as a replacement pilot had to be found
The crew voted unanimously against her flying. But when informed by the captain, she spat a tirade of swear words at him before lunging forward to ‘strike at him with both her hands’.
There was a sudden sharp pain to his nose and mouth which forced him to step back, Ms Cunnane told the court, adding: ‘He was unprepared and left reeling in shock for a number of seconds before he realised what had occurred.’
The court heard the flight manager caught the defendant in a bear hug, where she continued to threaten and abuse staff before she was arrested.
The captain, who was left with a ‘tingling nose’, was replaced by another pilot and the flight was delayed by two hours.
Nyamanhindi later pleaded guilty to assault and was bailed on conditions, including no foreign travel.
But she was caught days later boarding a flight to Paphos from Birmingham Airport and arrested.
Defending, Rachael Good said her client was remorseful, had mental health issues and was a previous victim of domestic violence.
She said Nyamanhindi was currently homeless and needed help with anger management.
‘She was very tired and is not at her best when she is woken up,’ she added.
Nyamanhindi, whose record includes two assaults on police officers, was sentenced to 12 weeks’ jail suspended for two years. It is not clear whether she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident.
Chairman of the bench Richard Monkhouse said the sentence meant they could ‘control her behaviour for two years’. -MAILONLINE