February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Pierce O’Reilly
A Queens man was arrested at Dublin airport last Wednesday after crew members aboard an Aer Lingus flight informed airport police that Jean Robin, 68, from Astoria had become very disruptive on a flight from JFK to Dublin.
Robin, a French-born American, overturned a food cart and threatened to hit an air hostess with his shoe before being restrained by other passengers.
Garda Chris Elliot told the Dublin District Court last Wednesday that the air hostess suffered bruises to her knees as a result of the trolley being overturned.
Robin pleaded guilty to assault, intoxication and abusive behavior before Judge Miriam Malone. The incident occurred shortly before the flight from JFK to Dublin airport landed at 5:30 a.m.
The defendant’s lawyer, Terry Lyons, said his client was embarrassed by his behavior which was out of character and had been brought on by "a cocktail of medication and alcohol which had an extremely bad effect on him."
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Judge Miriam Malone said she wanted a medical report on Robin before passing sentence and remanded him on continuing bail.
Gerry Moore, the Aer Lingus vice president of customers affairs in the U.S., said that air rage incidents are a major concern to all carriers.
"Safety and security are paramount to us and we’re very concerned that crew and passengers are always safe and comfortable on our aircraft," Moore said.