Plane passenger jailed for shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘boom’ as jet hit turbulence

A PLANE passenger who yelled “Allahu Akbar” and “boom” as the jet he was travelling on flew through heavy turbulence has been jailed.

Shehraz Sarwar was on an Emirates flight from Dubai to Birmingham when he terrified fellow passengers, chanting “Allahu Akbar” over and over again.

The 38-year-old has now been jailed for 10 weeks following the incident.

Prosecutor Patrick Sullivan told Birmingham Crown Court Sarwar had been difficult from the start of the flight, refusing to put on his seat belt and throwing food around inside the cabin.

He said: “The behaviour before these words was obnoxious.

“He fell asleep for about three-quarters of the flight and when he woke up he threw a towel back at a member of staff who had offered him one.

“He threw a scone behind him, although it did not land on anyone, and he was also hitting his head with his hand.

“People were distressed and upset by his behaviour.”

Mr Sullivan added: “In a statement, one of the passengers said the plane had hit strong turbulence as they were descending.

“He said that he was happy to have survived the landing but feared, after hearing Sarwar, that he was going to be the victim of a terrorist bomb and that his ‘heart skipped a beat.’”

But Sarwar’s defence lawyer Balbir Singh said the passenger had acted erratically because he had not taken his medication and was upset after attending his mother’s funeral in Pakistan.

Mr Singh said: “There was considerable turbulence.

“One of the cabin crew, with 14 years’ experience, said it was the worst landing she had ever experienced.

“Mr Sarwar was scared during the flight.

“He prayed, chanting Allahu Akbar, which translates as ‘God is great’.

“When the plane landed he did shout out ‘boom’.

“It was a very foolish thing to do and he can’t really explain why he said it.”

But Judge Francis Laird QC told Sarwar in court: “Set in the context of the current political situation, chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ over and over again while on a plane had a frightening effect on some of the passengers and reduced some to tears.

“You misbehaved and you were arrogant on board.”

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