A woman identified as Zoe Alexander, 36, launched a 90‑minute assault on cabin crew and fellow passengers during a nine‑hour Manchester‑to‑Cuba flight in August 2022. After consuming brandy, she punched, kicked and even bit staff before being restrained. A Manchester court later spared her jail time, citing her status as the sole caregiver to a one‑year‑old son, but imposed a 12‑month ban on overseas travel.

Zoe Alexander’s 90‑minute brandy‑fuelled rampage on a Manchester‑Cuba flight

According to the court record, Alexander knocked back multiple glasses of brandy shortly after take‑off, then proceeded to assault three cabin crew members and several holidaymakers. Witnesses described the scene as “out‑of‑control” and reported that the disturbance lasted roughly an hour and a half, causing panic among the 300‑plus passengers on the Ryanair aircraft.

The incident forced the crew to halt service and call for assistance from the pilot, who later reported the event to authorities upon landing in Cuba. The brandy consumption was highlighted by the prosecution as a key factor that escalated the violence.

Judge grants suspended sentence citing sole carer status

During sentencing, the presiding judge noted that Alexander had become a mother to a one‑year‑old son and was his sole carer, a circumstance that weighed heavily in the decision to forgo immediate imprisonment . The court issued a suspended sentence, meaning any future breach could activate custodial time.

As reported by the court, the judge also ordered a 12‑month prohibition on any travel outside the United Kingdom, effectively preventing Alexander from boarding another international flight during that period.

Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary calls for early‑morning pint ban

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary seized on the case to argue that airlines should ban the traditional early‑morning airport drink.. He claimed that “drunken,aggressive passengers” are forcing the carrier to divert flights “almost daily,” and that the problem is worsening.

O’Leary’s comments, cited in the report,reflect a broader industry concern about alcohol‑related disruptions , which have risen sharply since the pandemic as airlines resume full schedules.

12‑month travel ban raises enforcement questions

The court’s travel restriction is unusual in UK criminal sentencing and raises practical questions about enforcement. No mechanism currently exists for airlines to automatically block a passenger flagged by a domestic court, and it is unclear whether the ban will be communicated to foreign carriers.

Legal analysts, quoted in the source , suggest that the ban may rely on immigration checks rather than airline screening, potentially limiting its effectiveness.

Will airlines be able to enforce the 12‑month ban?

One open question is whether Ryanair or other carriers will adopt a system to flag passengers with court‑imposed travel bans. The airline has not yet announced any new screening procedures,and the UK Home Office has not confirmed a protocol for sharing such information with airlines.

Another unresolved issue is the potential impact on Alexander’s child, who remains in her sole care.. Child‑welfare advocates argue that a travel ban could complicate family reunification or medical travel, though no further details were provided in the court documents.