A French woman with a fear of flying and a history of sleepwalking appeared in an Australian court on Monday after she attempted to open a jet airplane’s door in mid-flight so she could light a cigarette.
Sadrine Helene Sellies had taken sleeping tablets and alcohol ahead of the Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to Australia on Saturday, Brisbane’s Magistrates Court heard.
The 34-year-old tourist pleaded guilty to endangering the safety of an aircraft and was given a 12-month good behaviour bond, Australian Associated Press reported.
Sellies was on a flight between Hong Kong and Brisbane when she was seen walking toward’s one of the plane’s emergency exits carrying an unlit cigarette and a lighter.
She was stopped by a flight attendant as she began tampering with the door.
Sellies was arrested and charged once the plane landed in Brisbane.
Her lawyer, Helen Shilton, said that her client was terrified of flying and had drunk some alcohol and taken sleeping tablets ahead of the flight.
Shilton said Sellies, who has a history of sleepwalking, had no memory of the incident.
Sellies was placed on a one-year, Aus$1 000 ($730) good behaviour bond. – Sapa-AFP