Passengers on a Birmingham-bound flight were left terrified and reduced to tears when a man chanted “Allahu Akbar” and “Boom!” as they were about to land.
Shehraz Sarwar, 38, caused widespread alarm with his ‘obnoxious’ behaviour while aboard the Emirates Boeing 777 from Dubai on February 1 last year.
Birmingham Crown Court heard some of the 347 passengers were left in tears after becoming frightened by his shouting.
Sarwar had caused difficulties from the start of the flight, twice refusing to put his seat belt on during take-off and then making the loud outbursts before landing at Birmingham Airport.
Patrick Sullivan, prosecuting, said: “The behaviour before these words was obnoxious. He fell asleep for about three quarters of the flight and when he woke up he threw a towel back at a member of staff who had offered him one. He also threw a scone behind him although it did not land on anyone.
“He was also hitting his head with his hand. People were distressed and upset by his behaviour. In a statement, one of the passengers said the plane had hit strong turbulence as they were descending. He said that he was happy to have survived the landing but feared, after hearing Sarwar, that he was going to be the victim of a terrorist bomb and that his ‘heart skipped a beat.’”
Sarwar pleaded guilty to using threatening words and behaviour.
