US court raps Scot accused of New York flight drama
A SCOTS holidaymaker accused of trying to use the emergency exit of a plane during a delayed take-off was reprimanded by a US court yesterday.
Robert McDonald had faced up to a year in prison if found guilty of recklessly endangering the lives of fellow passengers at New York’s JFK Airport.
The 60-year-old, of Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, was said to have tried leaving Delta flight 149 using its chute after it was delayed for more than two-and-a-half hours earlier this year.
But yesterday US prosecutors agreed a deal which will see the case dismissed in six months’ time provided he does not get into any further trouble.
McDonald did not appear in court in the New York City borough of Queens but his American lawyer George Welch explained that he had been allowed to stay in Scotland “for personal health reasons”.
“He is going to be remaining in Scotland,” said Mr Welch.
“He did not admit any guilt. As long as he has no contact with the American authorities for the next six months, the case will be dismissed.”
This effectively meant he must not get himself arrested in the US, although he is free to travel to America if he wishes, the lawyer explained.
He was not able to elaborate on whether McDonald had suffered a panic attack or some other mental health problem.
McDonald was said to have lost his cool after his flight from New York to Las Vegas in March sat on the taxiway at JFK Airport for nearly three hours because of bad weather and air traffic congestion.
He and his wife Jean had flown from Glasgow and were on a stopover in New York on their way to Las Vegas.
As he wrestled with the door and with flight attendants, members of the Boeing 737-800’s cabin crew managed to stop him before the evacuation slide was triggered.
However, the flight, with 146 passengers on board, had to return to the gate and was eventually cancelled.
Mrs McDonald last night welcomed the outcome of the case, but said that they had serious concerns about the way her husband had been treated. She added: “It was a hellish time. He is absolutely devastated by this.
“He is under the doctor’s care. I’m going to be speaking to my MP and people will be sued.”
