It Was a Frighten When a Passenger in a Plane Chanted 'Allahu Akbar' and 'Boom' During Turbulent Flight is Jailed

During the turbulence-hit flight from Dubai, passenger Shehraz Sarwar also started throwing food around the cabin, a court heard

Holidaymakers were left in tears when this plane passenger chanted “Allahu Akbar” and “boom” on a Birmingham-bound flight.

Some of the 347 passengers on board were reportedly distraught when Shehraz Sarwar began shouting as the aircraft hit turbulence.

The shocking incident happened on an Emirates Boeing 777 from Dubai on February 1 this year.

Sarwar, 38, has now been jailed for ten weeks at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting using threatening words and behaviour.

Mr Alex Warren, prosecuting, said Sarwar had caused difficulties from the start of the flight, twice refusing to put his seat belt on during take-off and throwing food around the cabin.

He said: “There was terrible turbulence during the flight and some passengers were very frightened.

“The defendant started chanting Allahu Akbar over and over again and very loudly. People were getting very distressed with his behaviour.

“When the plane finally landed, he shouted ‘boom’.

“It left some passengers in tears while one man angrily confronted the defendant before being told to sit down by cabin staff.

“Police were then called and the defendant was arrested.”

The Wing of the Flight

Mr Warren said Sarwar had previous convictions for dishonesty and violence, though his last conviction was in 2006.

Mr Balbir Singh, defending, said Sarwar had been upset after attending his grandmother’s funeral in Pakistan.

He added: “There was considerable turbulence. One of the cabin crew, with 14 years experience, said it was the worse landing she had ever experienced.

“Mr Sarwar was scared during the flight," he continued. "He prayed, chanting Allahu Akbar, which translates as God is Great. When the plane landed he did shout out ‘boom’.

“It was a very foolish thing to do and he can’t really explain why he said it. It was the height of foolishness.

“He is very sorry for his actions and realises what distress this caused to other passengers.”

Judge Francis Laird QC told Sarwar: “Set in the context of the current political situation, chanting Allahu Akbar over and over again while on a plane had a frightening affect on some of the passengers and reduced some to tears.

“You misbehaved and you were arrogant onboard.

"Incidents such as these on planes are taken very seriously by the courts and due to the circumstances I have no alternative but to send you to prison for 10 weeks.”

Sarwar was also told he would be placed on licence with a 12 month supervision order when he was released.