British man, 57, to be charged after shouting derogatory words at airline staff & kicking wall at Changi Airport

Realising that he had misplaced his mobile phone, a 57-year-old British man onboard a plane at Changi Airport decided to leave the aircraft to search for it.

When a female airline staff informed him that no mobile phone had been found, he proceeded to respond with "a slew of abusive and derogatory words", and kicked a wall panel of the aerobridge.

According to a press release by the Singapore Police Force, the man will be charged in court on Mar. 17, 2025.

Lost his phone

The police were alerted on Mar. 8, 2025, to an incident involving a man shouting at and being rude to a female airline staff member, as well as damaging a wall in a gate hold room.

Investigations revealed that upon boarding his flight from Singapore to London, the man realised he had misplaced his mobile phone.

He left the aircraft to search for it at the airport lounge where he had been earlier.

When he approached a female airline staff member at the gate hold room, she assisted by checking with the lounge staff.

However, there was no mobile phone there and she informed the man of this.

As the flight's scheduled departure time was approaching, the staff member advised the man that leaving the gate hold room would result in him being offloaded from the flight.

In response, the man allegedly used "a slew of abusive and derogatory words", and as he walked back toward the aircraft, he kicked and damaged a wall panel of the aerobridge.

The man was eventually offloaded from the flight, and officers from the Airport Police Division were called to the scene.

To be charged

The man will be charged with using abusive words against a person under Section 3(2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014.

This carries a fine not exceeding S$5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.

He will also be charged with committing mischief causing destruction to property, under Section 426 of the Penal Code 1871.

This carries an imprisonment term which may extend to two years, or a fine, or both.

Any form of harassment or abusive behaviour toward airport and airline staff is not tolerated, said Assistant Commissioner of Police M. Malathi, Commander of Airport Police Division, adding that it "disrupts airport operations and jeopardises the safety of the staff and their ability to perform their duties effectively."

"The Police take a serious view of such acts and will not hesitate to take action against those who do so.”

Top photo from Now Boarding Changi Airport