Drunk sisters ground flight after alcohol-fueled argument mid-air

The 34-year-old twins caused chaos aboard a TUI plane before it had taken off on June 1.

Drunk twin sisters forced a flight to be grounded after they had an alcohol fuelled argument mid-air.

In court, Laura Butterworth was described as "incoherent, volatile and abusive". She began throwing up when she was escorted off the plane that was due to fly to Fuerteventura. Sister Katie Butterworth was, however, branded as "argumentative" and allegedly refused to sit down when asked to do so.

The 34-year-old sisters caused chaos aboard a TUI plane before it had taken off on June 1. Katie's lawyer told Manchester Crown Court that "the holiday was simply to have an inexpensive break in the sun for a week with her sister, which didn't go to plan."

The Butterworths were seated separately but one behind the other when they boarded the plane. A mishap happened when Laura's bag tumbled into the aisle, scattering its contents, for which she blamed a fellow passenger, calling her 'vile', prosecutor Adam White recounted.

A dispute also flared between the sisters. To de-escalate, the cabin crew manager moved Laura away from her sibling, describing her as "completely incoherent" and "volatile towards myself and other crew members", reports the Manchester Evening News.

The mother of three, Katie, stood up claiming she had done nothing wrong and couldn't seem to stay put in her seat, the crew manager added. The manager made the decision to turn the plane around and return it to the terminal due to their disruptive behaviour. The duo were subsequently removed from the aircraft and arrested by the police.

Following her charge, Katie Butterworth stated: "I got blanketed with Laura, they couldn't tell us apart. They treated us as the same person, everything she did I got equal blame for and I wasn't the same. I don't like throwing her into it but it's not fair, it wasn't like that."

Katie Butterworth, from Redhill Drive in Stockport, admitted to intentionally interfering with the performance of an aircraft member's duty. Meanwhile, Laura Butterworth, from Lapwing Lane in Brinnington, confessed to boarding an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol.

In defence of Katie Butterworth, Sarah Hussell argued that her client had only consumed two glasses of wine before boarding the flight and was not "intoxicated". She further explained that Katie, who operates a "successful printing business", had been under significant stress prior to the flight due to home-schooling her child and arranging a payment plan for her debts.

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"The holiday was simply to have an inexpensive break in the sun for a week with her sister, which didn't go to plan," Ms Hussell said. Defending Laura Butterworth, Naomi Duckworth stated that her client had shown 'deep remorse' for actions described as "totally out of character".

She mentioned that Butterworth is currently jobless but is actively involved "working through the recruitment process" with the fire service and they are informed about her legal troubles.

During sentencing, Judge Patrick Field KC addressed the twins with grave words, "Some people think it is acceptable to drink to excess before they get onto an aeroplane, and then inflict their entitled and obnoxious bad behaviour upon fellow passengers and air crew alike. Well it isn't."

He continued admonishing them, saying: "You are twins, you are both 34 years old, intelligent and well-educated women. You should both have known better than to behave in the way you did."

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Speaking directly to Laura, he said: "You were so drunk that you were incoherent, volatile and abusive. It is said that you described another passenger's behaviour as vile. I think that epithet was perhaps more apposite to describe your own behaviour on this occasion."

To Katie, who allegedly denied intoxication, the judge declared: "You had had so much that your behaviour was less inhibited than it should have been."

Ultimately, the sisters received 12 month community orders each. Katie Butterworth was instructed to complete 60 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Laura Butterworth was directed to fulfil 120 hours of unpaid work.

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