A woman who admitted exposing herself to other passengers on a TUI flight to Florida is due to be sentenced next month after the aircraft was diverted to Manchester.
Sarah Parker, 30, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, has pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, being drunk on an aircraft and failing to obey the pilot’s instructions, according to reports of proceedings at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
The incident took place on 24 July 2025 aboard a TUI service from Birmingham Airport to Melbourne, Florida. The aircraft diverted to Manchester Airport rather than continuing across the Atlantic.
What the court heard
Prosecutors said Parker was intoxicated and left her seat during take-off, despite instructions to remain seated. She then pulled down her shorts and underwear in the aisle, exposing herself in view of other passengers.
Prosecutor Edward Downes described the behaviour as distressing to passengers and said it created a safety risk. He told magistrates the diversion caused extensive disruption and an estimated £20,000 financial loss.
That figure was presented by the prosecution. It should not be confused with a court order requiring Parker to reimburse the airline.
Could TUI recover the diversion costs?
The UK Civil Aviation Authority warns that disruptive passengers risk criminal prosecution, imprisonment and being required to pay the costs of diverting an aircraft.
TUI Airways’ conditions of carriage effective from 28 February 2025 also contain a provision making passengers liable for the costs of an unscheduled landing where the captain diverts because of their misconduct in order to remove them. Which version of the conditions applies can depend on when the flight was booked.
There is, however, no confirmed information in the reports reviewed by Fish 4 News that TUI has demanded payment from Parker or started separate recovery proceedings.
What happens next?
Magistrates decided their sentencing powers were insufficient and sent the case to Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester. Parker is due to be sentenced on 1 December 2026.
She has admitted the offences but has not yet been sentenced. A prison sentence is possible, but the outcome will be decided by the Crown Court.
Featured photograph is illustrative and does not show the incident: Riik@mctr / Wikimedia Commons, 2018 (CC BY-SA 2.0).
_at_Manchester_Airport_(1).jpg){kind=link}