Ed Sheeran caught in air rage drama on BA flight as drunk yob makes monkey noises to crew before armed cops arrest him
SINGER Ed Sheeran was caught in a terrifying air-rage incident when a drunk passenger racially abused crew.
The Shape of You star, 32, was an hour into his journey from Miami to Heathrow when the foul-mouthed lout sparked trouble by demanding booze.
He was restrained and armed cops boarded on landing.
The superstar smiled for selfies shortly before trouble flared on the jet
An angry, boozed-up passenger demanded more alcohol and was refused.
He reacted by hurling abuse as passengers on the Heathrow-bound service recorded his outburst.
In one clip, the Scotsman says “F*** you, you c***s”, adding: “Take all of your annoying c*** faces out of my f***ing eye range.”
As the stand-off continued, he was also alleged to have made monkey noises at passengers and crew.
An off-duty police officer and other fliers restrained him and he was strapped into a jump seat.
It was feared that the BA captain would turn back to the US. But after landing at London, six armed officers boarded the plane and arrested the man early on Tuesday.
Grammy-winner Ed had performed in the US on Sunday, watched by fans including footie’s Lionel Messi.
Ed agreed to a selfie with Dan Haughian, 41, at the departure gate at Miami before the air-rage incident.
Dan, of Manchester, said: “Everything just descended into chaos.
“The things this guy was saying and doing were just obscene.
“When they refused to give him any booze, he started making monkey noises and gestures at cabin crew.
“The language coming out of his mouth was worse than you’d hear at a footie match. He was lucky nobody knocked him out, everyone was horrified. There were loads of kids watching.”
Dan, returning from a work trip, said that even when the yob was restrained his ten-minute outbursts meant nobody could sleep on the nine-hour night flight.
Dan added: “The bloke must have been drunk when he boarded because the crew refused to serve him just an hour in, and they hadn’t been round with the trolley.
“At one point we were told we might be diverted and the pilot even came on trying to reassure everyone.
“A few people shouted ‘Good riddance’ when the guy was led away.
“I hope he gets what’s coming to him. Nobody should behave like that.”
Met Police said: “At 1.59am on October 24 officers at Heathrow received a report that a passenger on a flight arriving from Miami had made racist comments towards other passengers and crew members.
“Officers met the aircraft and a 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. He remains in custody.”
British Airways said: “Disruptive behaviour will never be tolerated on board our aircraft and we will always take the appropriate action.”