A man who claimed to be a football coach for Paris Saint-Germain stopped a packed plane which was headed to Spain after he snuck onto the flight.
Mervin Lewis, 33, was “heavily drunk” when he made his way onto the flight at Gatwick Airport on August 30.
Crawley Magistrates’ Court heard the individual had no idea he had missed his flight but still managed to board another jet to Murcia in the south-east of Spain.
It heard Lewis had shown easyJet staff an expired boarding pass, but was still allowed through security gates.
Before the jet was to depart, cabin crew realised and the captain was told.
Police rushed onto the packed plane and Lewis was removed.
Prosecutor Melanie Wotton told the court it was a “bit of a mystery”.
“He showed an expired boarding pass, but it wasn’t thoroughly checked,” she added.
The man made his way onto the easyJet flight
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GETTY“This is quite concerning for easyJet,
“He got onto the flight and sat down in his seat. Cabin crew then realise he doesn’t have a valid boarding pass and speak to him.”
The prosecutor added that the man was “clearly intoxicated”.
“The captain was made aware and all other passengers were then checked by cabin crew,” she said.
“He had a valid boarding pass for the flight earlier in the day. For whatever reason he hadn’t boarded that flight.”
Lewis appeared at court wearing a black hoodie and black jeans as well as designer shoes, according to The Sun.
He was handed a £191 fine.
The Tower Hamlets man earlier admitted to boarding an aircraft without permission.
The man made his way onto the flight at Gatwick Airport
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“I was very heavily intoxicated,” he said.
“I don’t remember walking on the plane. I have no recollection of what happened.
He apologised for “wasting your time”, again stating he was “drunk”.
He said it was supposed to be a holiday “for me to spend time by myself”.
“I’m a football coach for PSG and I’m a role model for others. I am deeply embarrassed,” Lewis added.
Magistrate Chris Howard-Harris told Lewis during sentencing that he “got onto the wrong plane” and while it was a mistake “it probably has taught you a lot about your drinking”.
“I am not sure we have the guidelines to sentence on this, but we know this is a matter we can deal with by matter of financial penalty,” Mr Howard-Harris said.
“You pleaded guilty, and we will fine you.”
GB News has contacted easyJet for comment.