Chloe Haines Sentenced To Two Years For Trying To Open Plane Door Mid-flight

A British woman was sentenced to two years in jail on Wednesday for trying to open the door of a plane mid-flight.

Chloe Haines was on a flight from London Stansted Airport to Dalaman in Turkey in June last year when crew members and fellow passengers were involved in a struggle to get her from opening the door.

Two Royal Air Force fighter jets were immediately scrambled to escort the plane back to Stansted Airport after the incident.

Haines, who admitted to the charges, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court. She pleaded guilty to the costs of endangering the safety of a passenger plane and assault via beating.

The incident took place on a Jet2 flight with 206 people aboard on the aircraft, which was going to Dalaman in Turkey.

Haines stated she allegedly blacked out and did not recall what happened after she mixed alcohol with medication.

One of the cabin crew members, Charley Coombe, suffered several scratches as she tried to prevent Haines from opening the door of the plane.

A passenger then told the police he was in fear she would open the plane door.

According to the prosecutor, Michael Crimp, Haines screamed she wanted to die, and she was going to kill all of the people trying to restrain her at the time.

The court was told it is not possible to open an exit door mid-flight though several passengers were not aware of this fact.

Oliver Saxby, her lawyer, stated she was a troubled young individual with many issues. She had been given a community order for similar offenses, which revolved around alcohol more than two weeks before the incident.

Saxby said she was diagnosed with mental illness and was trying to get sober.

Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy claimed alcohol was a significant contributor to the incident, and the airline is working to crack down on events that involve it during flights.

He stated they have been leading the industry towards tackling drinking to excess in one of the airports before flying and the illicit consumption of duty-free alcohol onboard flights.

Jet2 fined Haines more than 85,000 pounds after her disruptive behavior led the flight to be diverted.

Heapy claimed said Haines caused distress to the other passengers and crew. They added they would not tolerate that kind of behavior on their flights.

The U.K. government stated they would be reviewing the licensing laws which allow airport passengers to drink continuously.