“I’ll Kill You!” Man Faces Multiple Charges After Intoxicated Outburst On Singapore-Bound Flight

An Indian national has been charged with threatening to kill a cabin crew member (among other charges) on a violent flight from Australia to Singapore.

Man Charged With Threatening To Kill Cabin Crew After Too Much To Drink On Singapore Flight

Here’s what happened:

• 42-year-old Kolathu James Leo of India was traveling on Scoot from Sydney (SYD) to Singapore (SIN) on February 27, 2025 on Scoot, the budget subsidiary of Singapore Airlines
• Onboard, he consumed alcohol and purportedly became inebriated
• He began shouting
• Detaching his seatback pocket, he repeatedly hit the seatback in front of him
• When the cabin crew tried to calm him down, he became aggressive
• He grabbed the wrist of a male flight attendant and hours later threatened to kill the same flight attendant
• Leo was restrained with zipties, but only quieted down once he was warned that any further outbursts would result in the return of the aircraft to Sydney
• He has been charged with:
  • threatening to kill another person
  • exercising criminal force on a flight attendant
  • intoxication onboard an airplane
  • jeopardizing good order and discipline
• His trial is on April 22, 2025
• Potential punishment includes:
  • up to one year in prison plus a fine of 20,000 SGB for jeopardizing good order and discipline
  • up to three months in prison and a fine of 1,500 SGD for grabbing the flight attendant
  • up to 10 years in jail for threatening to kill another person

Leo is expected to plead guilty.

Lesson (it’s always the same lesson): moderate your drinking when flying.

Hat Tip: SINJIM