Drunken Lankan cricketer tried to open aircraft cabin door at 35,000ft

2 July 2013 04:08 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 89 Bookmark

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A drunken cricketer of the Sri Lanka A team caused panic on a packed British Airways passenger flight when he tried to open the cabin door at 35,000ft, the Daily Mail reported.

In his stupor he tugged away for up to two minutes at the exterior door before telling BA cabin crew on board the packed Boeing 777 that he had mistaken it for the toilet.

The incident alarmed eye-witnesses among the 229 passengers on board flight BA 2158 as the Sri Lankan cricket team flew back high over the Atlantic ocean from St Lucia to London Gatwick.

The recruitment consultant who is on maternity leave said: ‘It was pretty frightening. I’m a nervous flyer anyway but things had been fine until then. I was awake. My daughter had been crying. So I saw everything.’

She said the man wrestling with the door was among a group of cricket players wearing the blue Sri Lankan polo-shirt team uniform with their country’s name in yellow lettering.

‘Suddenly he came over and tried to open the cabin door several times. It went on for a few minutes. He was pulling quite heavily.'

‘The BA flight attendants came running down the aisle and tried to calm him down. He seemed quite disoriented. At one stage he was leaning against my daughters cot.’

She heard the man tell cabin crew that he had been looking for the toilet - an account confirmed by BA.

Mrs Francis said: ‘It was very scary. He looked very dazed or drunk. He was very tall and wearing black and red ‘Dre’ headphones.

‘He had a blue polo shirt and the team logo along with his team-mates.

‘Some of his team-mates were shouting and telling him to stop. I was just a few feet away. My mum was really upset. Thank goodness he was stopped.

‘Somebody said they had been drinking for four hours before they got on the plane.’

BA said: ‘During the flight a man got up and tried to go to the toilet.

‘But instead of going to the toilet he tried to open the aircraft door in mid-flight.

‘The event was linked to "an element of alcohol". He explained his mistake and cabin crew accepted it in good faith. Cabin crew reassured customers who witnessed the event.’

BA stressed that it is impossible to open the pressurised door in mid-flight and that at no point was the safety of passengers compromised.

Security were informed on the ground but police were not called or involved.

After leaving the BA flight at Gatwick, the player and his team mates subsequently boarded another plane belonging to another airline taking them on to Sri Lanka.

Officials confirmed witness accounts that the man at the centre of the drunken escapade was a Sri Lankan cricketer but declined to name him.

A British Airways spokesman said:’ There was a minor incident onboard the BA2158 service from St Lucia to Gatwick involving a customer who we believe had been drinking’

He added: ‘It is impossible to open an aircraft door when it is at high altitude and at no point was the aircraft in any danger.

‘Our cabin crew are highly trained to deal with such incidents and offered re-assurance to customers who were sitting near to the door.’

Comments - 89

OMG Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:57 AM

Ape minissu kelenne thanikara pisuu.

This player should seriously think about becoming a politician.

0 14

Apuhamy, Tuesday, 02 July 2013 10:37 AM

Sorry for this cricketer, they are fed up of the country and releasing their stress in wrong way.

5 10

Susantha Nihal Gunaw Tuesday, 02 July 2013 10:26 AM

Poor guy he likes to go footboard

0 58

OMG Tuesday, 02 July 2013 09:45 AM

another idiot to spoil our reputation

0 17

kitth udugama Tuesday, 02 July 2013 09:29 AM

Call the police. This is not the way to drop the players from the team when they are not performing well.

0 19

Sizzler Tuesday, 02 July 2013 09:26 AM

Shortest distance from 35,000 feet above to heaven

0 14

kitth udugama Tuesday, 02 July 2013 09:26 AM

Too bad, if he opened the door he could have really gone to the toilet.!!

1 54

musa Tuesday, 02 July 2013 09:21 AM

May be.. to take a flying catch...or rather fed up with cricket after losing to an excellent team ..India....

4 8

Ceylonese Tuesday, 02 July 2013 09:13 AM

SL cricketers are unable to identify the pitch these days, unable recognise swinging bowl and now even a toilet!!!!

0 21

Sana boy Tuesday, 02 July 2013 09:04 AM

im sure they oneday will become ministers

0 15

Shan Tuesday, 02 July 2013 09:02 AM

Name that stupid Donkey and punish.

2 110

Ramanan Tuesday, 02 July 2013 09:02 AM

Forgive him. May he was in top urgency and couldn't find the correct door

1 7

surain lal Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:05 PM

he must have thought and compared it as a sri lanka private bus and wanted to stand at the foot boad

0 5

ASHRAFF NAZIM Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:56 AM

OUR CRICKETERS ARE MORE CONCERNED TO EMBROIL OTHERS AND TO ENGAGE IN AWFUL ACTIVITIES AND BLUNDER THEMSELVES.

0 6

Just Another Citizen Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:54 AM

So who's the cricketer?

0 5

Migara Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:50 AM

A lot will try to jump over board in the coming months, the kitchen is getting hot ah ?

0 8

Burampi Aathaa Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:43 AM

What is wrong with having a good time?

10 3

GC Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:38 AM

Your thinking is strange. Would have like to be near that door with your loved ones? Also, "warning and disciplinary actions" do not got go together. Either one or the other can happen.

1 10

kautilya Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:39 AM

His father too jumped from a balcony sometime back, after inebriated

0 39

k.bandu Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:35 AM

He will elected soon to lead the country

0 17

GC Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:35 AM

Wow! We have such rich spectators who can visit Antigua to watch cricket matches! We should be the envy of the world.

4 12

GC Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:32 AM

I think the guy knew he will be forgiven because, according to a leading politician, "Boy will be boys".

3 136

shafi Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:25 AM

Ban this bulshit.. alchols...

1 8

raj Tuesday, 02 July 2013 02:12 PM

Its the Sri Lanka A Cricket team not the national team.

9 16

Suresh Thursday, 04 July 2013 06:25 AM

If opened the door mistakenly, so what happen next passenger

0 0

silva Thursday, 04 July 2013 06:02 AM

take it easy as long as no harm to all passengers.but in future boarding pass should be issued seperately for those who are under the influence of liqure or sleep-walking habbits.

0 0

Oshada Wednesday, 03 July 2013 09:48 AM

weldone, you showed ur father is keheliya and you have his blood! This is the WONDER OF ASIA!!!!! we can watch newer movies in near future like this... #lol

0 1

APPUHAMY Wednesday, 03 July 2013 06:40 AM

SHAME! SHAME! SHAME! WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY. AFTER POLITICIAN NOW CRICKETERS TRYING TO JUMP FROM THE SKY.

0 0

angi Wednesday, 03 July 2013 02:31 AM

very small incident ,He tried to open the washroom door,that.s all (Sri lanka cricket board)

0 1

Lionel Wednesday, 03 July 2013 01:21 AM

Excuse him, the Gentleman cricketer want to go to the "Kakkusia"

0 1

rav Tuesday, 02 July 2013 02:33 PM

Ramith Rambukwella

0 10

Gamini Tuesday, 02 July 2013 02:22 PM

This is Sri Lanka "A" team ....another team Played in Caribbean, Sri Lanka team still Caribbean playing Tri series. But I think drinking over the limit among our yound is common and has to be stopped.

0 4

SK Tuesday, 02 July 2013 02:21 PM

He definitely will. As we now know, he is the son of a minister!

1 59

kaslana Tuesday, 02 July 2013 02:18 PM

Time for Great Britain to make all Sri ankan's a flight risk and charge another £3000 bond

1 10

John Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:23 AM

After all 'boys will be boys'?!

4 24

raj Tuesday, 02 July 2013 02:09 PM

Cricinfo has already mentioned the name. Check their site

0 37

mani Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:33 PM

father fell of a balcony in Australia and son almost fell of a plane

0 19

sandaruwan Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:30 PM

Ha...ha... that's the Buffalo A Team!

1 64

Fedup Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:25 PM

Like Father, like Son

0 15

Inium Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:22 PM

Rambukwella, it looks like Boys always will be Boys.

0 10

Kimbula Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:19 PM

This is Sri Lanka A Team oyiiiiiii.

0 12

warna Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:17 PM

Bodu Bala Where are you?

1 11

rAJEEVA Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:14 PM

Exactly, this is full of misinformation. SL team was not on that flight. This is all LTTE in London trying to dicredit Team SL.

14 5

sara Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:11 PM

Why did the crew stop him without helping him out, less one problem for SLC.

0 7

ud Tuesday, 02 July 2013 01:07 PM

son of kehelella

1 55

Rodriguez Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:32 AM

Lets give to bodu bala sena & ravana balaya to investigate and take action.

15 89

Ceylonese Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:38 AM

He must have thought that the toilet was outside the plane because most Sri Lankan toilets are found outside the house.

8 92

david Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:39 AM

TOMMOROW NEWS,from bbs british police and british airways
are against us???

3 52

Samantha Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:38 AM

It's the A team returning from WI

3 53

godaya Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:38 AM

Can it be the Top ministers son???

5 124

Phoenix Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:38 AM

It is said Srilanka A team

2 65

nawa Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:36 AM

Sri Lanka "A " team

2 80

Sas Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:35 AM

he Cricketer was part of the Sri Lankan A Team traveling to England following their tournament in the West Indies.

4 26

ANTON Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:36 AM

HE MUST HAVE FELT THAT HE WAS TRAVELING ON A SRILANKAN PRIVATE BUS.

3 82

Duracharya Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:34 AM

Everyone who wear Sl cricket T shirt is not a cricketer. This cannot be true as our Team is playing tonite India. This must be a spectator who is flying back home via London. Pl investigate and get the name out as it is a disgrace to our nation. Many foreign team players also doing same or worst but our Team or pool T shirt became an issue. Can't it be a non Sri Lankan wearing our T shirt? Lets get a stright account from SL Cricket.

Any cricketer who take Alcohol cannot be a performer 100% sure. Food and drinks is 90% of the game.

117 20

Batman Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:32 AM

Ela kiri machan,
If you had opened the cabin door 229 in heaven now.

5 58

Capitaan KuCool Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:40 AM

Everything gone to the dogs. Even todays criketers

4 31

Nihal Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:31 AM

Sim , This may be the A team .

2 23

Gallian Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:30 AM

Sim its Sri Lanka Cricket "A" Team bro..

2 128

Kiwi Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:28 AM

Fantastic publicity for the country.

3 87

Early bird Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:27 AM

Agree ! We have two tall fellows in current SL team and they are playing tomorrow. SLC hurry up and clarify this before it damages the country/players image.

105 15

Fayaz Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:25 AM

No big deal. It's a just simple mistake!!

81 26

k.bandu Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:22 AM

next leader in making

2 61

whiteflag Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:21 AM

great

1 22

Sim Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:20 AM

This can't be true, Sri Lanka crickters are still in West Indies taking part in the triangular tournament.

227 19

be fair Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:20 AM

what a way to play ball, at 35,000 feet.
This is Sri Lanka Cricket, TODAY

11 161

Harry Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:17 AM

Some people like drinking a lot before boarding a plane. They explain that will help them sleep soundly during the journey. I don't quite agree on that. The drunk breath is so unbearable if you happen to sit next.

5 193

Somapala Tuesday, 02 July 2013 05:00 AM

Another Drunkard Detected!

0 106

Mohan Tuesday, 02 July 2013 08:20 AM

Must be a western conspiracy to damage the good name of our cricketers especially when we are doing so well in cricket.

6 13

Yuri Tuesday, 02 July 2013 06:21 AM

And He can Join the Sri Lanka Politics

6 298

mark Tuesday, 02 July 2013 06:13 AM

Welldone Ramith !!! way to go .... Sana good selection sir.

2 75

Podi Malli Tuesday, 02 July 2013 06:04 AM

no, from kandy

5 30

Gobbaya Tuesday, 02 July 2013 06:00 AM

This is not the sri lankan team.its sri lankan A team.

3 41

Gobbaya Tuesday, 02 July 2013 05:59 AM

They are not old men they are young cricketers I dont think they really want to sleep throught out the journey instead of having fun during the flight.

6 60

MATHAN Tuesday, 02 July 2013 05:55 AM

BRAVOOOOOOO SHOW YOUR COLORS . HOOOOOOOOO

1 12

Palitha Ranatunge Tuesday, 02 July 2013 05:41 AM

Is he from SIRIKOTHA?

25 8

suppa Tuesday, 02 July 2013 05:37 AM

another drunken he he !!!!

0 35

AHSRAFF NAZIM Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:59 AM

MATATA THITHA - OVER TO YOU

1 28

crow Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:16 AM

DISMISS THIS BUFFALO FROM TEAM

17 400

Richard Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:58 AM

Is this news something to laugh or cry? I’m confused. Unfortunately, he showed his ignorance while wearing national colours though.

1 23

Ulysses Grant Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:53 AM

the cricketer who accidentally tried to open the cabin door of the BA flight. Even the BA flight crew had realized that this was an error and accepted the culprit's explanation in good faith. However, most of you commenters can't give this guy a break and keep suggesting that the story is not true because most of you are ignorant that the Sri Lanka "A" team was just in the West Indies and were en route to England. Before opening your collective mouths and jumping into conclusions, at least have the good sense to investigate the matter and then offer your two cents!

21 39

Shervin Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:52 AM

First of all I would like to know the manager of the team. I would he should be delt first as he has to take the blame for each and every act. I would say that he does not know his job.

1 32

janak Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:51 AM

IS THIS CRICKETER FROM HAMBANTOTA

9 50

AIA Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:51 AM

I think an innocent mistake from a guy who just enjoyed himself before the flight. But of course he should be warned and appropriate disciplinary action is warranted.

7 21

Lumia Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:51 AM

This is not an Issue. A small careless Mistake, most probably it should be malinga haha .

53 10

kolekoilhk Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:48 AM

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

11 38

aliyo Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:44 AM

who is that cricketer. and sl cricket should take diciplinary action against him. shame for our country.

1 33

Nina Kamal Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:44 AM

Win or lose WE booze!!! Cheers for another drink dude!

2 35

BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 02 July 2013 04:43 AM

This is what happens when start playing the gentlemans game.

13 67

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