British tourist, 42, is arrested for ‘groping flight attendant and spitting at her boss’ on flight to Ibiza
A British holidaymaker has been banned from flying by an airline after he was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a flight attendant and spitting on her boss on a flight to Ibiza.
The 42-year-old, believed to be from Oldham, was detained by police yesterday morning after reaching the island on a Jet2 flight from Manchester.
The airline has since confirmed that it has banned the passenger, whom they named Rizwan Sabri Raja, from flying with them.
The Civil Guard also said it would ask the airline operating the flight to refuse the passenger on the return flight he booked to Britain.
In response to reports of the arrest this afternoon, an airline spokesperson named and shamed the problem passenger and confirmed that he has been banned for life from flying Jet2.
As well as prosecution, the unnamed Brit also faces a heavy fine and difficulties trying to return to Britain if he is given a Jet2 ban (file image)
Subsequently, in a harsh statement, his behavior was described as “absolutely abhorrent” and said it would “fully support” the authorities.
The company said: ‘We can confirm that the disruptive passenger, Rizwan Sabri Raja, was discharged by police at Ibiza airport on August 24 following a catalog of absolutely abhorrent behavior towards our crew.
We will not tolerate such behavior and will fully support the authorities in their investigations.
“As a family-friendly airline, we have a zero-tolerance policy towards disruptive passenger behavior and can confirm that Mr. Raja will be banned from flying with us for life as a result of his regrettable actions.”
A spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed the arrest today: “Agents have arrested a British man as the suspected author of a crime of assault against a flight attendant on a flight from Manchester to Ibiza.
“Yesterday morning, officers were asked to go to a plane that had just landed.
The pilot told officers that a passenger had refused to follow the crew’s instructions during the flight, groped one of the flight attendants’ buttocks and spat at her boss.
“He was immediately arrested.”
It was not immediately clear today whether he has yet appeared in court for a hearing in which a judge would have to decide whether he should be remanded in custody or released on bail pending an ongoing criminal investigation.
In addition to prosecution, the nameless Briton also faces a heavy fine.
The Civil Guard spokesman said: “He will also be reported to Spain’s Agency for Air Safety and Security (AESA) for his alleged conduct during the flight.
“And the Guardia Civil at Ibiza airport will ask the airline concerned to refuse this passenger on the return flight he has booked to Britain.”
AESA is the government agency in Spain that ensures compliance with civil aviation standards in all aviation activities in Spain.
It has the power to fine violators for breaching Spain’s aviation safety law, with fines ranging from around £50 to nearly £40,000.
The 42-year-old was detained by police yesterday morning after reaching the island on a Jet2 flight from Manchester (file image)
Last September, a British man was arrested after assaulting a female passenger in the seat next to him on a Ryanair flight from Liverpool to Mallorca.
Airline flight attendants radioed police from 10,000 meters after the woman, also British, complained that he had touched her breasts and asked her to have sex with him in the toilet.
He was detained when the plane landed at Palma airport.
Reports said the unnamed Briton had been fined £2,500 at the time after being taken to court for an early trial.
The woman at the center of the extraordinary airborne incident was allegedly sexually assaulted just before the plane landed after the male passenger had unwanted sexual innuendo with the young Briton.
Ryanair said in a statement at the time of the incident: ‘The crew on this flight from Liverpool to Palma have asked the police for help after being made aware of a person behaving inappropriately towards another passenger.
“The crew removed the passenger from this individual for the remainder of the flight, and police removed him from the aircraft after landing. This is now a matter for the local police.”