Topic overview
In brief
- In July 2022, Lee Ryan was arrested on a British Airways flight after becoming abusive towards cabin crew.
- He was found guilty of multiple offenses, including racially aggravated assault against a flight attendant.
- Ryan is currently awaiting sentencing after a partial appeal of his conviction was allowed.
Summary
In July 2022, Lee Ryan, a member of the band Blue, was involved in a serious incident on a British Airways flight from Glasgow to London City Airport. After consuming a whole bottle of port, he became abusive towards cabin crew when they refused to serve him more alcohol. This led to his removal from the flight by armed police, who arrested him on suspicion of public order offenses. Following his arrest, Ryan faced multiple charges, including being drunk on an aircraft, assaulting a police officer, and behaving abusively towards a crew member. Most notably, he was convicted of a racially aggravated assault against a black British Airways attendant. The court proceedings revealed that Ryan had a history of legal troubles, including previous driving bans and fines for various offenses. In November 2024, a judge allowed Ryan to partially appeal his conviction, specifically regarding the threatening behavior towards a crew member, but upheld the conviction for the racially aggravated assault. As a result, Ryan is now awaiting sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court, where he faces the possibility of further legal consequences. This case has drawn significant media attention, not only due to Ryan's celebrity status but also because of the serious nature of the charges against him, which highlight issues of racism and public behavior in the aviation industry.