A British Airways crew member has become an unlikely drum and bass act after a well-known DJ on board one of her flights published footage of her almost single-handedly restraining an unruly passenger.
The flight attendant was called into action when a dispute broke out between passengers on Flight BA275 from Heathrow to Las Vegas on the afternoon of 6 August. About 300 other people were on the aircraft which had already pushed back from the gate and was readying for take off, including Algerian-British DJ Bou and his tour manager, who filmed the confrontation as it took place.
The disturbing video reveals a small group of passengers shouting, swearing, and attempting to push and shove each other, while a flight attendant later identified by DJ Bou as Sophie, intervenes to restore order.
In the footage, she places herself between the arguing passengers can be heard repeatedly and forcefully telling one of them to “Stay seated” and “Sit down.” She is eventually forced to warn the protagonist: “I will be restraining you sir, if you don’t stay seated.”
Finally, the aircraft returned to the terminal, where the man in question was disembarked from the flight by officers from the Metropolitan Police, who later confirmed they had been asked to attend the airport “following reports of a passenger being disruptive on an outbound plane.” In a statement the police said the man was later “charged with being drunk on an aircraft and disobeying the orders of the captain.” They identified him Irishman Emmet Moynihan, aged 31, and informed press “He has been bailed to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 26 August.”
Under United Kingdom law, being inebriated on an aircraft and failing to obey the captain’s commands are serious criminal offences. Convictions carry a maximum penalty of up to two years in prison, an unlimited fine, and being required to cover any airline diversion costs. Guilty passengers can also face a lifetime ban from flying with that carrier.
The incident resulted in the plane’s departure being delayed by over three hours. It finally took off towards America’s “Sin City” at 8:30 pm. But the story does not end there.
@bou_dnb STAY SEATED (the breakdown) #fyp ♬ original sound – Bou
DJ Bou later posted on social media about what had unfolded, publishing the footage filmed by his team. He praised the flight attendant, called for British Airways to give her a pay rise, and even remixed her command to “Stay seated” into a track.
Even more followed. It transpired that the crew member was following DJ Bou online and her subsequent surprised reaction led to the pair taking a photo together. DJ Bou went as far as inviting Sophie to one of his gigs where more footage shows he introduced her to clubgoers, before she performed live to the track. DJ Bou captioned the clip: “BIG UP SOPHIE UR A REAL ONE.”
A spokesperson for British Airways told The Independent: “Disruptive or abusive behaviour is never tolerated on board and the safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority. When these incidents occur, the appropriate action will always be taken.”
