BA passenger ‘endangered aircraft and attacked cabin crew’

A BA passenger has appeared in court charged with endangering an aircraft and assaults on cabin crew on a flight from Dubai to London.

Davide Sampson, 21, is charged with one count of sexual assault and five of assault by beating. The assaults relate to four women and one men.

Bearded Sampson appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court wearing a blue overshirt and white trousers, speaking only to confirm his personal details.

He is further charged with one count of endangering an aircraft, two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment and one of using threatening or abusive words likely to cause harassment.

Sampson is also charged with failing to obey the lawful commands of a pilot, intentionally interfering with the performance of an aircraft crew member’s duty and entering an aircraft while drunk

Prosecutor Ravinder Chodha said the alleged offences happened at 39,000 feet on board a double decker Airbus jet from Dubai International to Heathrow on March 13.

Sampson, of Slough, Berkshire, was bailed ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on October 24.

Magistrate Nigel Shock told Sampson: ‘Your next appearance will be at Isleworth Crown Court. If you are late or do not turn up, you will be committing a separate offence.

‘You must turn up on that date.’
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