Passenger Jailed for Harassing and Assaulting Cabin Crew

A 54-year-old passenger has been sentenced to six months in prison after attempting to sexually assault a female cabin crew member and physically assaulting another crew member aboard an easyJet flight from Tunisia to Manchester, England.

During proceedings at Manchester Crown Court, it was revealed that Manoj Wickramasekara, from Prestwich, was intoxicated during the flight. According to evidence presented in court, the passenger made inappropriate remarks toward a female flight attendant during the onboard duty-free service and attempted to touch her. The crew member stepped back, preventing physical contact.

Later in the flight, a half-empty bottle of whisky was discovered near the passenger. When cabin crew intervened, he verbally abused the staff, grabbed a crew member’s wrist and pushed them. Police officers responded after the aircraft landed at Manchester Airport.

The court sentenced Wickramasekara to six months in prison after convicting him of attempted sexual assault, boarding an aircraft while intoxicated, and common assault. The date and flight number of the incident were not specified in the published reports.