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British Man Jailed For Over Nine Years For Smoking On Plane

British Man Jailed For Over Nine Years For Smoking On Plane

His prison sentences has been extended.

James Dawson

James Dawson

A man who endangered the lives of passengers by lighting up a cigarette in a plane's toilets has seen his jail sentence extended to nine years and six months.

John Cox triggered the fire alarm on board the Monarch Airbus plane from Birmingham to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt when he discarded the cigarette in the toilet's bin in August 2015.

The resulting fire caused the captain to issue a mayday call and he was forced to consider an emergency landing while crew members rushed to quell the flames.

Credit: PA Images

The incident came after a smoke detector had gone off an hour into the flight and a fire, in a different toilet, had to be put out by the crew.

The captain issued a strongly worded warning about the 'moronic' conduct of smoking on board - but the second incident came only hours later.

Credit: PA Images

Cox pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and was jailed for four years and six months in January.

However, the Court of Appeal has ruled the sentence was too lenient and jailed Cox, 46, for nine years and six months.

Cox was detained by Egyptian authorities when the plane landed and arrested on his return to the UK.

Credit: PA Images

He had been drinking before and during the flight, and was abusive and aggressive to other passengers and the crew.

Lady Justice Sharp said: "The level of culpability and potential for harm is at the highest level.

"To throw a cigarette butt into a wastepaper bin without ensuring it is extinguished would show a high degree of recklessness.

Credit: PA Images

"On an aircraft at 33,000 feet, the conduct comes perilously close to deliberate fire-setting."

Appeal judges heard the offence was out of character for Cox, who was a hard-working family man coping with his mother's death and his marriage breaking up.


Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Plane, Smoking