Woman Blames Alcohol-Fueled Flight Diversion On Mental Health Issues, Warns Of Suicide

Catherine Bush made quite a scene on her recent flight to Turkey. Now she has apologized for her conduct, offering multiple excuses for her poor behavior onboard.

Passenger Writes Apology Letter For Her Drunken Behavior Onboard Flight To Turkey

The incident occurred onboard Jet2 traveling from Manchester (MAN) to Antalya (AYT) in March 2022. Bush was filmed screaming at passenger and flight attendants for reasons that were not clear beyond the fact that she was intoxicated.

In an apology letter to Jet2, Bush apologizes and seeks to explain her actions.

Here is her letter, obtained by the UK Daily Mail:

I would firstly like to extend my deepest apologies to you, your airline and the passengers on the LS895 flight for my unruly, aggressive and vile behaviour. I am so ashamed of myself for conducting myself in that manner.

There will never be an excuse to justify what happened and I wholeheartedly hold my hands up and take full responsibility for my actions. I know it is no excuse, but I do suffer with severe mental health issues, I have anxiety, depression and a personality disorder.

The disorder makes it very difficult for me to regulate myself, my emotions and mood. I currently take anti psychotic medication for this but unfortunately my doctor wasn’t able to get my prescription ready before I was due to fly, so regrettably I made the decision to travel without them.

I had never flown by myself either and was supposed to be having a friend fly with me that day but due to Covid a day before we were due to fly they had to cancel. I then made the disastrous decision to go alone which I now realise was the wrong thing to do.

I was extremely anxious in Manchester Airport so I decided to have an alcoholic drink to calm my nerves, I don’t usually drink alcohol because of my mental state but with me not having any medication I genuinely thought it would help me through the flight. This I now realise to be a huge and life-changing mistake.”

I took alcohol on board the aircraft when I knew I shouldn’t have, I became so intoxicated I couldn’t control myself. I struggle to control myself the majority of the time so alcohol intensified this massively.

The stewardess rightly confiscated my alcohol which was not a problem, but after I asked staff for a bottle of water and was refused and unfortunately my anger got the better of me. When I also asked for food and again was refused my anger really took hold and I started to raise my voice and get out of my seat.

At this point all the passengers were focused on me and my behaviour, which just made my mental state worse. I just wanted to get out of the situation and there was no where to go, however I certainly didn’t try an open the aircraft door and endanger other passengers.

At home I cannot travel on public transport due to my mental illness as I feel trapped and scared. The whole situation was very distressing for me causing me to behave erratically and out of character.

Members of staff were then grabbing my arms to calm me down, but unfortunately it just escalated the problem as I was in an abusive relationship for 10 years and anyone touching me triggers my mental health. However, I didn’t put my hands on anyone on that flight, I have three people who were on the flight that can bear witness to the fact that I didn’t physically hurt any passengers or staff.

When I was removed from the aircraft and released by the Austrian authorities I sadly tried to commit suicide and was stopped by Austrian police who then took me to a psychiatric ward in Vienna.

I was strapped down to the bed by my arms and legs and given strong sedatives because I was so hysterical, and a danger to myself and others. I was there just over a day before I was allowed out of my restraints.

The psychiatric nurse told me I had, had a psychotic episode. I have experienced psychosis before due to my mental health and it was very scary and confusing for me.

I would like to reiterate that this will never justify my actions on board that aircraft but I felt I had to let you know how difficult it is for me to do the most simple of tasks, things ordinary people take for granted.

I am again feeling suicidal and overwhelmed by the whole situation.

I am so embarrassed and ashamed with myself it’s becoming too much to bear but at least I’m in good hands with some friends here, who are making me feel a bit better about the whole situation.

Again I apologise from the bottom of my heart that I caused so many people distress.

Importantly, Bush admits to bringing alcohol onboard and being in intoxicated. The UK has warned passengers about such behavior and Bush now can only play up the mitigating factors which impacted her conduct.

It’s often easy for us to condemn other people. Certainly there are times we can be far too dismissive in understanding the struggles that others are going through that may not readily be apparent.

But at the same time, ultimately the only people Bush failed to blame for her actions were her parents. Why not throw them under the bus too? Life is not fair and often much tougher for some than others. Ultimately, there reaches a point where were must take responsibility for our own actions and I’m not sure her paragraphs of excuses help her case rather than make clear that she really should not have ever stepped onto the plane alone and she knew better.

CONCLUSION

The passenger who forced a Jet2 flight to divert to Vienna, Austria last month has written a lengthy letter of apology, asking for mercy and seeking to explain her poor conduct onboard.

Do you think Bush’s letter helps her case or hurts it?