Twin sisters caused chaos on a TUI flight following a drunken argument, resulting in the plane being grounded. Laura Butterworth was described as “incoherent, volatile, and abusive” as she had to be removed from the aircraft at Manchester Airport, while her twin, Katie Butterworth, was labelled as “argumentative” for not following crew instructions. The 34-year-old sisters, who had planned a simple holiday to Fuerteventura, found themselves in trouble when tensions escalated onboard the flight.
The disruptive incident occurred when Laura’s bag spilled its contents in the aisle, leading to a confrontation with another passenger. Cabin crew had to intervene to separate the sisters, with Laura displaying erratic behaviour towards the crew members. Despite Katie’s insistence that she had done nothing wrong, the crew deemed their conduct disruptive enough to warrant the plane returning to the terminal. Subsequently, both sisters were escorted off the aircraft by authorities and faced legal consequences.
In court, Katie Butterworth, from Stockport, disputed the charges, claiming she was unfairly blamed for her sister’s actions. She acknowledged a charge of disrupting an aircraft crew member, while Laura pleaded guilty to boarding the plane while intoxicated. The defence lawyers highlighted the sisters’ remorse and personal challenges, with Katie balancing home-schooling and business responsibilities and Laura undergoing the recruitment process with the fire service.
During sentencing, Judge Patrick Field KC admonished the sisters for their behaviour, emphasizing that such conduct on an airplane was unacceptable. Both Laura and Katie were handed 12-month community orders, with Katie required to complete unpaid work and rehabilitation requirements, and Laura tasked with unpaid work hours. The judge reminded the twins, both well-educated individuals, that they should have known better than to behave disruptively on the flight.
The court proceedings shed light on the consequences of the sisters’ actions, from their altercation onboard the flight to the legal repercussions they faced. Despite their remorse and personal challenges, the judge’s stern words underscored the seriousness of their behaviour and the need for accountability. The incident serves as a cautionary tale of the importance of responsible conduct, particularly in high-stress environments such as air travel.