EasyJet passenger restrained by holidaymakers onboard flight after ‘biting and spitting’ rampage

An EasyJet passenger was restrained by other holidaymakers and then hurled off the flight after he went on a 30-minute long “biting and spitting rampage”.

Christopher Burgess, 44, was travelling from Alicante to Manchester when he started making a scene.

The 44-year-old was “slurring at the mouth”, with some parents moving their children away from Burgess to “keep their distance”.

One passenger – on the November 8, 2023 flight – said that Burgess “repeatedly abused” him and attempted to bite him.

After calling the police, fellow passengers had to restrain him until officers could intervene.

Upon landing at Manchester Airport, officers boarded the plane where they found the 44-year-old face down on the floor.

Burgess placed his arms under his body, resisting arrest, until police deployed “distracted shots” to get him to release his arms.

A spit hood was also placed over the 44-year-old.

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Travelling to the police station, he continued his rampage by making threats to the officers and saying homophobic and racist slurs.

“Hearing all the racist abuse made me feel very angry,” the officer told Minshull Street Crown Court. “Someone so open about being racist, who showed no remorse, it’s something I will never be able to forgive.”

The following day, he was interviewed and said he didn’t remember what had happened.

Burgess was jailed for 24 weeks.

He previously admitted entering an aircraft when drunk and racially aggravated harassment.

Bradley Mather, prosecuting, told the court: “They [passengers] could clearly smell intoxicants, he was slurring his speech and frothing at the mouth.”

Sentencing judge Timothy Clayson said: “It is a deeply distressing and terribly frightening experience to be in an aeroplane when somebody, such as you, behaves in a totally aggressive and difficult manner.”