Drunken holidaymaker who brawled on Jet2 flight in front of terrified families after downing bottle of vodka is jailed

By SHANNON MCGUIGAN, NEWS REPORTER and JOHN SIDDLE Published: 12:45, 25 June 2026 | Updated: 12:46, 25 June 2026 A drunken holidaymaker who brawled with his friend on a Jet2 flight in front of terrified families after downing a bottle of vodka has been jailed.  Nathan Cooper went on a terrifying 20-minute rampage on a Jet2 service from Leeds Bradford airport to Chania, Greece, on July 24, 2025. The 45-year-old guzzled a bottle of duty-free vodka as the flight was waiting for permission to take off, Leeds Crown Court heard.  Before he started a brawl with his travel companion, Christopher McCann, who was sitting beside him, the cabin crew noticed he was heavily intoxicated.  After the two were separated by staff and asked to move to the back of the plane, McCann followed Cooper, and they continued to fight, the court was told.  'They were throwing punches, and the defendant was kicking the seats and punching lockers on the aircraft,' Louise Pryke, prosecuting, said. At one point, Cooper was persuaded to sit down on what was described as a 'jump seat', but was so drunk he fell off.   Police officers then boarded the plane in a bid to handcuff Cooper.  Cooper then punched a policewoman in the face and bit another officer on the arm as cops battled to drag him from the aircraft, the court heard.   Nathan Cooper, 45, (pictured) has been jailed for 15 months after brawling with his friend on a Jet2 flight to Chania, Greece Cooper went on a terrifying 20-minute rampage on a Jet2 service from Leeds Bradford airport to Chania, Greece , on July 24, 2025 (file image) Cooper was described as having 'glazed eyes' while repeatedly screaming: 'F***ing maggots'. Cops were finally able to remove him after the rear aircraft doors were opened. Footage of his arrest later went viral on TikTok. Bricklayer Cooper, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to affray and being drunk on an aircraft.  He has since been sentenced to 15 months behind bars and has also been banned from flying with Jet2 for life. Judge Taryn Turner, sentencing, said Cooper's behaviour would have caused 'alarm and distress' to both passengers and crew. 'You threw punches, kicked at seats and struck internal fittings, and this behaviour took place in what, as anyone who's travelled in an aircraft knows, is a crowded environment,' she said. 'There is increasing concern about the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption on aircraft. 'Those who choose to drink to excess and then behave violently in such a confined and safety-critical environment can expect to receive an immediate custodial sentence.' McCann, 45, also of Harrogate, has pleaded not guilty to affray and is due to stand trial in August 2027. He claims to have acted as a peacemaker. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.