MH179: One month's jail for disruptive German passenger
Astro Awani
May 13, 2015 17:30 MYT
May 13, 2015 17:30 MYT
On May 9 at 11.45pm, Flight MH179 enroute to Colombo, Sri Lanka was forced to make a turnback to the KLIA after Ross, believed to be intoxicated, began to harass the plane crew.
A German national who created chaos on a Malaysian Airlines (MAS) Flight MH179 last Saturday, was today sentenced to a month's jail by the Sepang Sessions Court.
Dietmar Ross, 54, pleaded guilty to endangering the life of a cabin crew member, Phuah Soh Kin, 47, as well as breaking flight rules and using harsh words.
He was charged under Section 70(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1969. The charges were read out twice in English via a court interpreter in front of Sessions judge Aizatul Akmal Maharani.
Ross, reportedly a married Bali resident, was represented by Zaflee Pakwanteh while deputy public prosecutor Uma Devi Subramnaim prosecuted.
On May 9 at 11.45pm, Flight MH179 enroute to Colombo, Sri Lanka was forced to make a turnback to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) after Ross, believed to be intoxicated, began to harass the plane crew.
MAS in a statement had said due to Ross' size, other guests had to assist the crew to restrain the passenger.
Ross was then handed over to the authorities upon arrival at the KLIA.
The plane then departed for Colombo at 10.06am the next day.
However, a blood and urine test confirmed that Ross was not intoxicated, media reports quoted acting Sepang district police chief Abdul Aziz Ali as saying.
He reportedly said Ross, a first class passenger, became angry when his request for alcohol was turned down by the cabin crew because it wasn't serving time yet.