BANGOR, Maine – Two men from Manchester, England, are facing serious federal time after pleading guilty today to charges stemming from a mid-air brawl that forced a TUI Airways flight to divert to Bangor International Airport (BGR) last month. The incident, fueled by alcohol and rage, left a flight attendant and a passenger injured and cost the airline over $26,000.
Anthony Joseph James Kirby, 36, and Damien Jake Murphy, 36, admitted to interfering with a flight crew and assault in U.S. District Court in Bangor. According to court records, the pair were passengers on a TUI Airways flight en route from Cancun, Mexico to Manchester, England on January 2, 2023, when they began causing trouble while the plane was flying over U.S. airspace. The FAA received reports of repeated interference with crew members and flight attendants.
The trouble started after Kirby and Murphy were cut off from alcohol service. Undeterred, the pair reportedly produced a large bottle of liquor from their carry-on bags and continued to drink, quickly becoming heavily intoxicated. Despite multiple warnings from the flight’s captain, the two men’s behavior escalated. Witnesses say they became increasingly belligerent, and hurled racial slurs at staff. The situation culminated in Murphy physically assaulting a flight attendant and Kirby attacking a fellow passenger.
The unscheduled landing at BGR triggered a swift response from federal and local law enforcement. Agents and officers from the FBI, Federal Air Marshal Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Bangor Police Department were on scene to apprehend Kirby and Murphy. TUI Airways LTD was left footing the bill for the emergency landing, racking up $26,589 in costs and expenses.
Each man now faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release for the interference charge. Additionally, they could receive up to one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release for the assault charges. Sentencing will be scheduled after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigation report.
The FBI, Federal Air Marshal Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Bangor Police Department all contributed to the investigation. This case serves as a stark reminder that disruptive and violent behavior on commercial aircraft will not be tolerated, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. These two men thought they could get away with a drunken rampage thousands of feet in the air, but they were dead wrong.
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Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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