A drunk passenger who pulled down her pants and exposed her vagina on a flight cost TUI tens of thousands of pounds. Sarah Parker, 30, from Halifax, could go to prison after getting out of her seat to go to the toilet during take-off from Birmingham Airport on July 24, 2025. Cabin crew on the flight reminded Parker of the rules, but she pulled down her shorts and underwear in the plane’s aisle in view of other passengers, a court heard. The plane was on its way to Florida and had to be diverted to Manchester. She was travelling to Melbourne, Australia. The incident cost the airline £20,000.
Prosecuting counsel told magistrates on Tuesday (November 3) that Parker’s behaviour distressed other passengers. She previously pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, and admitted being drunk on a plane and failing to comply with the pilot’s instructions, our sister site YorkshireLive reported. A charge document said Parker behaved in an indecent manner by “pulling down her shorts and underwear, squatting and exposing her vagina in full view of other passengers”.
She “failed to obey a lawful command, namely sitting in her seat after being instructed to do so and making her way to the toilet”, it added, the Daily Star reported. Edward Downes, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was intoxicated on the flight from Birmingham in the UK to Florida in the US. Her behaviour was distressing to passengers causing danger.
“She was exposing her genitals in view of the passengers. The flight had to be diverted to Manchester Airport. The disruption was extensive. The financial loss was £20,000.” District judge Simon Blakebrough told Parker: “Exposing yourself on a plane full of passengers is quite serious.”
Magistrates in Manchester said their sentencing powers were not sufficient, deciding to commit the case to the Crown Court.
Parker’s sentencing is expected to take place at Minshull Crown Court on December 1.