Drunk granny punches fellow pax on Melbourne - Wellington flight
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Drunk granny punches fellow pax on Melbourne - Wellington flight
From News.com.au
A NEW Zealand woman is facing up to two years' jail for allegedly attacking a passenger on an international flight from Melbourne.
Frances Macaskill, 58, allegedly assaulted a man on Jetconnect's QF37 from Melbourne to Wellington on Saturday morning.
Jetconnect cabin crew allegedly had to restrain her and turn the aircraft back to Melbourne, an hour into the flight.
The man needed treatment from a doctor as a result of the incident.
Macaskill was taken off the aircraft by Australian Federal Police at Melbourne Airport and arrested.
AAP reports the incident inconvenienced Qantas to the tune of $19,760.
She is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court today on charges of assault, failure to follow instructions on an aircraft and offensive behavior on an aircraft.
The AFP said in a statement that the charges had maximum penalties of up to two years' jail or a $5500 fine.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Shane Connelly said this kind of behaviour was unacceptable.
"The AFP will not hesitate to charge anyone behaving in a manner that may interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft," he said.
"This kind of behaviour puts fellow passengers and cabin crew members at risk and will not be tolerated."
I'll lay money that she gets nowhere near the max in terms of prison sentence or the fine. No doubt there will be the usual pleas of mitigation by her lawyer.
A NEW Zealand woman is facing up to two years' jail for allegedly attacking a passenger on an international flight from Melbourne.
Frances Macaskill, 58, allegedly assaulted a man on Jetconnect's QF37 from Melbourne to Wellington on Saturday morning.
Jetconnect cabin crew allegedly had to restrain her and turn the aircraft back to Melbourne, an hour into the flight.
The man needed treatment from a doctor as a result of the incident.
Macaskill was taken off the aircraft by Australian Federal Police at Melbourne Airport and arrested.
AAP reports the incident inconvenienced Qantas to the tune of $19,760.
She is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court today on charges of assault, failure to follow instructions on an aircraft and offensive behavior on an aircraft.
The AFP said in a statement that the charges had maximum penalties of up to two years' jail or a $5500 fine.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Shane Connelly said this kind of behaviour was unacceptable.
"The AFP will not hesitate to charge anyone behaving in a manner that may interfere with the safe operation of an aircraft," he said.
"This kind of behaviour puts fellow passengers and cabin crew members at risk and will not be tolerated."
I'll lay money that she gets nowhere near the max in terms of prison sentence or the fine. No doubt there will be the usual pleas of mitigation by her lawyer.
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Frances Macaskill, 58, allegedly assaulted a man on Jetconnect's QF37 from
Melbourne to Wellington on Saturday morning.
Melbourne to Wellington on Saturday morning.
Now really, she a 58 year old granny, and they turned the flight back? A bit soft? Haven't they got handcuffs on board?
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From Sydney Morning Herald this afternoon;
+1 
A short time into the flight Macaskill began to disrupt other passengers by yelling profanities at other passengers and the air crew.
Ms Gurry said the air crew had observed Macaskill drinking alcohol she had bought duty free at Melbourne International Airport before boarding the plane.
"As the accused continued to yell profanities at other passengers and air crew, she then began to punch the seats in front of her in a violent manner," the prosecutor said.
Macaskill was told to stop but she ignored the cabin crew.
She then stood up and punched another passenger seated in 7E on the right side of the face, causing a six centimetre cut and heavy bleeding.
Macaskill was restrained by the cabin crew with the help of the victim and placed in flexi cuffs before being moved to an empty seat at the rear of the aircraft.
Ms Gurry said Macaskill continued to yell profanities and repeatedly headbutted the seat in front of her.
The crew was forced to attach three child seatbelts together and strap Macaskill across the shoulders to the seat to stop her from injuring herself.
At about 10am, the captain decided to return to Melbourne because of Macaskill's behaviour.
Federal police arrested Macaskill and noticed she was swearing loudly, slurring her words and was suffering the effects of alcohol.
The cost to Qantas to turn the flight around was $19,760.
Defence lawyer Nadia Moralis said Macaskill had no memory of what had happened and was shocked and appalled by what she had done.
Ms Moralis said Macaskill now recognised she had an underlying problem with alcohol.
She faces a maximum penalty of two years jail and $5500 fine.
Ms Gurry said the air crew had observed Macaskill drinking alcohol she had bought duty free at Melbourne International Airport before boarding the plane.
"As the accused continued to yell profanities at other passengers and air crew, she then began to punch the seats in front of her in a violent manner," the prosecutor said.
Macaskill was told to stop but she ignored the cabin crew.
She then stood up and punched another passenger seated in 7E on the right side of the face, causing a six centimetre cut and heavy bleeding.
Macaskill was restrained by the cabin crew with the help of the victim and placed in flexi cuffs before being moved to an empty seat at the rear of the aircraft.
Ms Gurry said Macaskill continued to yell profanities and repeatedly headbutted the seat in front of her.
The crew was forced to attach three child seatbelts together and strap Macaskill across the shoulders to the seat to stop her from injuring herself.
At about 10am, the captain decided to return to Melbourne because of Macaskill's behaviour.
Federal police arrested Macaskill and noticed she was swearing loudly, slurring her words and was suffering the effects of alcohol.
The cost to Qantas to turn the flight around was $19,760.
Defence lawyer Nadia Moralis said Macaskill had no memory of what had happened and was shocked and appalled by what she had done.
Ms Moralis said Macaskill now recognised she had an underlying problem with alcohol.
She faces a maximum penalty of two years jail and $5500 fine.
I'll lay money that she gets nowhere near the max in terms of prison sentence or the fine. No doubt there will be the usual pleas of mitigation by her lawyer.
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Ms Moralis said Macaskill now recognised she had an underlying problem with alcohol.
How was her behaviour at check in? Oh, that's right. We don't have check in anymore. As long as a drunken pax can stagger past the boarding staff in a reasonably straight line for ten seconds the airline is none the wiser until the aircraft takes off and said drunk starts throwing punches. Even nightclubs have more stringent entry requirements than commercial flights.
I'll lay money that she gets nowhere near the max in terms of prison sentence or the fine. No doubt there will be the usual pleas of mitigation by her lawyer.
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Frances Macaskill, 58, allegedly assaulted a man on Jetconnect's QF37 from Melbourne to Wellington on Saturday morning.
Ms Gurry said the air crew had observed Macaskill drinking alcohol she had
bought duty free at Melbourne International Airport before boarding the
plane.
bought duty free at Melbourne International Airport before boarding the
plane.
You're kidding right? She's allowed to board and the flight is subsequently diverted back to Melbourne. Who should be charged here? Responsible service of alcohol would dictate that if she's affected by alcohol she wouldn't be allowed entry right? Was she served any alcohol on board?
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Good thing she didn't belt anybody with her colostomy bag!
And if she had her original teeth she could have even bitten somebody??
Don't worry, next time she will flop out one her elderly old sagging tits and smash somebody across the head with the old leathery wrinkled thing (if she doesn't trip over it first!).
And if she had her original teeth she could have even bitten somebody??
Don't worry, next time she will flop out one her elderly old sagging tits and smash somebody across the head with the old leathery wrinkled thing (if she doesn't trip over it first!).
