Charges loom for drunk airline passenger

DUBAI // A drunk passenger who allegedly told the crew of an Emirates flight from Manchester to Dubai that there was a bomb on board the aircraft is likely to face charges, say prosecutors. The aircraft landed safely in Dubai after the incident last Tuesday and the passenger, a Briton, was taken off the flight and into police custody. The case has been referred to the chief prosecutor, Mohammed al Nuaimi, who will decide what action should be taken.

"The chief prosecutor will be examining the case in great detail," said a prosecution spokesman. The man will be kept in a holding cell at the airport until after the weekend, when it is likely he will be charged. Police reported that the man was extremely intoxicated when he was taken off the plane. After an argument with a flight attendant, he falsely claimed there was a bomb hidden on the aircraft.

"The captain in this instance had the sole discretion to determine if his passengers' lives were, in fact, at risk from the man's actions and based on the captain's recommendation, charges would be filed accordingly," the prosecution spokesman said. He said that making a false report was a relatively minor charge compared with the more serious offence of placing passengers' lives at risk. The airport control tower was immediately alerted, and after the aircraft landed, passengers were evacuated.

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