Drunken Passenger Jailed After Forcing Pilot to Abort Landing on Ryanair Flight
A disruptive and intoxicated passenger on a Ryanair flight has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after his abusive behaviour forced the pilot to abort the plane's landing, causing significant distress to crew and fellow travellers.
Flight from Krakow to Bristol Descends into Chaos
Stephen Blofield, 61, of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, became increasingly disruptive during the flight from Krakow to Bristol on November 11, 2025. Bristol Crown Court heard that Blofield had turned to drinking double measures at the airport to 'settle' his nerves after losing his medication for back pain, depression and anxiety. He continued drinking while on board, becoming abusive towards the Polish cabin crew.
The court was told that Blofield screamed to fellow passengers, 'I'm savage, I drink JD', before declaring 'You can't tell me what to do, I'm English' when crew members asked him to calm down. His behaviour escalated as the plane approached Bristol Airport, with Blofield refusing to sit down and fasten his seatbelt. This dangerous refusal forced the British pilot to abort his first attempt at landing, creating a potentially hazardous situation for everyone on board.
Police Confront 'Worst' Abuse in Two Decades
When the plane finally landed, police were waiting to arrest Blofield. Officers described encountering what one veteran policeman called the 'worst' abuse he had experienced in twenty years of service. Blofield's aggressive behaviour continued as he 'struck out' and narrowly missed hitting another passenger while police attempted to handcuff him. He called one officer a 'c***' during the confrontation.
Prosecutor Ian Fenny told the court: 'When the officers boarded the flight and approached him, they found him to be drunk, aggressive and confrontational. Because of the confined space within the fuselage of an aeroplane, they were concerned that he might strike out and inflame the situation where they noticed that other passengers were already agitated.'
Ambulift Required for Removal from Aircraft
The situation became so severe that police had no choice but to use an ambulift, normally reserved for disabled passengers, to remove Blofield from the shocked cabin crew and 'marooned' passengers. Mr Fenny explained: 'As a consequence of the defendant's behaviour, passengers were effectively marooned on board as the police, and most particularly cabin crew, tried to evacuate the plane quietly and safely.'
He added: 'Thus, a number of the passengers had no option but to be further exposed to what was described by the police as the defendant's vile verbal aggression.' The prosecutor emphasised that Blofield's behaviour was 'so alarming and potentially dangerous' that extraordinary measures were required to resolve the situation.
Defendant's Explanation and Guilty Pleas
At a previous hearing at North Somerset Magistrates in February, Blofield pleaded guilty to multiple offences:
- Being drunk on an aircraft
- Using threatening or abusive language to cabin crew
- Failing to comply with the pilot's instructions
- An offence under the Public Order Act of using threatening abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress
Defence barrister Sam Louwers explained that Blofield had lost his medication for back pain, depression and anxiety ahead of his trip to Poland, where he had been tracing his family roots. He turned to alcohol for the return journey home. Mr Louwers told the court: 'When he got to the airport, his anxiety, depression, pain levels were sky high and he became incredibly nervous of flying and so foolishly decided that now would be the right time to settle his nerves, as many do, with a drink at the airport.'
The defence barrister added that Blofield had 'no recollection' of the incident but had seen videos posted on social media of his behaviour. 'He's never denied his behaviour, he's never denied his actions,' Mr Louwers said. 'Mr Blofield is distressed by his behaviour, he's distressed as to what he has witnessed in these videos.'
Judge Imposes Custodial Sentence
Judge Euan Ambrose handed Blofield, who is on benefits and has a lengthy criminal record, a 10-month sentence. The judge stated: 'This is a case where only a custodial sentence can be justified. It is so serious that no other form of sentence would be appropriate.'
Judge Ambrose continued: 'You were drunk when you got on board and you continued to drink whilst on board, becoming increasingly drunk during the flight. Your behaviour deteriorated, you became disruptive and aggressive and refused to follow basic safety instructions from the crew, such as being asked to sit down, fasten your seatbelt and matters of that sort.'
The judge emphasised the serious consequences of Blofield's actions: 'You caused great concern and fear amongst fellow passengers and also fear and alarm to the crew. Your behaviour was such that the first attempt at landing into Bristol had to be aborted and when the plane finally did manage to land, police were called and boarded the plane. When they approached you, they found you drunk, aggressive, confrontational and extraordinarily abusive towards them.'
