Man Caused Petrol Bomb Scare on Jet in England

A drunken passenger caused a panic when he tried to light a piece of paper stuck in a bottle on an easyJet flight from Stansted to Edinburgh.

The pilot notified police and Alyn Scanlin, 48, was met at Edinburgh Airport by 30 police officers, including an armed unit.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court today heard that Scanlin took a bottle of water from a seat rack, stuffed a piece of paper into the neck and tried to light it.

Passengers feared he was attempting to detonate a petrol bomb and screamed in terror.

After Scanlin, of Basildon, Essex, was arrested, a forensic team searched the plane to ensure nothing had been left on board.

Defence agent Graham Horsman said Scanlin was so drunk he could not recall what had happened.

He told Sheriff Kathrine Mackie Scanlin was serving an 18-month probation order for drink-driving.

Scanlin pleaded guilty to causing a breach of the peace on October 26 and sentence was deferred for background reports.

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