A Wellington man's boozy antics on a trans-Tasman flight has resulted in him being banned from Qantas flights for five years.
Brendan Mathew Hetherington boarded a full flight on the Australian airline in Sydney in September last year, bound for Wellington.
A court summary said Hetherington "became grossly intoxicated".
When a warning light appeared for passengers to return to their normal seats, Hetherington did not follow the advice and became "disruptive".
"He refused to return to his assigned seat and began yelling abuse at cabin crew and fellow passengers."
Back in his seat, his loud, foul-mouthed tirade continued and the whole plane could hear him. The Qantas crew politely asked him to calm down, but Hetherington ignored them. The captain ordered him to be restrained.
"Cabin crew, assisted by willing passengers, restrained the intoxicated defendant by placing hand cuffs on," the summary said.
"He remained in his seat, overseen by crew and assisting passengers. He continued to verbally abuse one of the passengers caring for him throughout the trip."
Police were waiting for Hetherington at Wellington Airport and took him into custody. He told them he couldn't remember what happened.
"Once sober, he was very apologetic," the summary read.
In the Wellington District Court today, Hetherington admitted a charge of offensive behaviour. He was sentenced to nine months' supervision, including alcohol and drug counselling if ordered to.
A charge laid under the Civil Aviation Act was dropped, as the Civil Aviation Authority had already fined Hetherington $1100. He was banned from Qantas flights for five years, the court heard.
"When someone is that far above the ground with that number of people on board it's very difficult and dangerous to be grossly intoxicated on board and difficult for staff to handle," Judge Barbara Morris said.
"I'm sure that the sober you is remorseful for what occurred," she told Hetherington.
Defence lawyer John Miller said Hetherington had been on medication that did not mix with alcohol for depression, and had been through a "traumatic" family separation.
Considering the fine and the Qantas ban, he had already been "well and truly punished".
Outside court, Hetherington said he was sorry and remorseful for what happened. "It was just a really stupid mistake."
