A female passenger who refused to wear a Covid-19 mask on a plane after being told to put it on 15 times before assaulting a police officer with her make-up bag has been let off with a fine.
Lotta Kemppinen, 28, from Bristol, was arrested at Heathrow airport following a two hour flight from Helsinki on Christmas Eve last year.
Disruptive Kemppinen, who was drunk on the plane, was told to pay £1450 for being drunk on an aircraft, compensation to PC Manesh Patel and court costs, Isleworth Crown Court heard.
James O’Connell, prosecuting, said: ‘About 20 minutes into the flight the crew became aware of the defendant who was sitting in seat 11A because another passenger asked to be moved because the defendant appeared to be drunk and was bothering the passenger.
‘The defendant was then asking if she could have some more wine. She’d already been given two small bottles of wine.’
Lotta Kemppinen, above, was let off with a fine after disrupting a flight from Helsinki to London
Crew members saw Kemppinen was ‘under the influence of alcohol’ and refused to serve her any more drinks before she began shouting about a connecting fight.
He added: ‘For one hour and twenty minutes of the two hour flight they were distracted by having to pay attention and deal with the defendant.
‘She was asked at least 15 times to put on her mask.
‘She refused to do it and eventually a decision was made the police would need to be called when the plane landed at Heathrow.
‘The defendant was uncooperative with the police. She was asked to provide her passport.
‘Using a makeup-style bag she hit the officer then slapped the officer once to the face.’
Once she was arrested, Kemppinen became ‘fully cooperative and apologetic for her actions’.
Mr O’Connell added: ‘Her actions thankfully were not to assault the aircrew. She was more disruptive during the flight and when she did assault someone it was thankfully after the plane had landed.’
Defending solicitor Tom Quinn argued Kemppinen’s actions were more ‘disorientated’ than drunk and that despite shouting loudly she was not swearing.
Kemppinen, 28, was arrested when she landed at Heathrow, above, after a two hour flight
He said she has taken an anti-depressant called Sertraline prior to the incident, which contributed to the state she was in.
The court was shown body worn footage of police office speaking to her, saying: ‘Tell me your name or give me your passport. Are you taking the mick?
‘I’m going to have to arrest you.’
Police body-cam footage played in court showed Kemppinen was curled up on the seats of the plane, crying and seemingly distressed.
Mr Quinn claimed there was ‘little or no distress caused to the officer’. He suffered a minor headache after the incident.
‘Since this offence, at her own cost she has engaged in rehabilitation,’ he continued.
Lotta Kemppinen,pictured above, from Bristol, assaulted a police officer with her make-up bag
‘When you find yourself away from home arrested in a police station, it’s a massive wake up call,’ he added, explaining that alcohol had ‘become a problem’ for her.
The incident took place because of a combination of alcohol, anti-depressants and ‘international flight anxiety’, said Mr Quinn, adding that her grandfather had recently passed away.
Kemppinen was tearful in the dock as the judge, Mr Recorder Michael Hick told her: ‘You behaved very badly and clearly caused anxiety and distress.
‘I am sure you are well aware of the effect that can have on people in those confined and cramped conditions where people feel vulnerable and many feel anxious.
‘You refused to wear a mask and were clearly causing great difficulty to the crew.’
The judge took into account her previous good character and her mental state at the time following the death of her grandfather.
He fined her £1,000 for being drunk on an aircraft and ordered to pay £250 compensation to PC Patel. She must also pay £200 in costs.
Kemppinen admitted assaulting an emergency worker and being drunk on an aircraft.
She appeared in court wearing a black skirt, a white skirt and a charcoal blazer.
