A passenger who sparked panic and left holidaymakers in tears after shouting “Allahu Akbar” and “boom” on a Birmingham-bound flight has been jailed.
Shehraz Sarwar, 38, caused alarm with his behaviour while on the Emirates Boeing 777 flight from Dubai.
Sarwar, of Saltley, was jailed for 10 weeks at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting using threatening words and behaviour.
Birmingham Crown Court heard some of the 347 passengers burst into tears after becoming frightened by his shouting during a turbulence-hit landing on February 1.
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.”
Mr Warren said Sarwar had previous convictions for dishonesty and violence, but that his last conviction was in 2006.
Mr Balbir Singh, defending, said Sarwar had been upset after attending his grandmother’s funeral in Pakistan.
He said: “There was considerable turbulence. One of the cabin crew, with 14 years’ experience, said it was the worst landing she had ever experienced.
“Mr Sarwar was scared during the flight. 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 told he would be placed on licence with a 12-month supervision order when released.
