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Joseph McCabe, who runs his own construction firm and co-owns a party boat business, was jailed for 46 weeks on Friday at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after admitting four sexual offences

A former soldier who sexually assaulted four Jet2 cabin crew during a flight to Tenerife has been jailed.

Joseph McCabe groped and slapped the buttocks of two flight attendants before grabbing a third around the waist and attempting to hug a fourth. A court heard McCabe’s behaviour forced the plane, which had left Edinburgh, to be diverted to the Portuguese island of Porto Santo.

Police there arrested the 40-year-old man and, last month, he admitted the four sexual offences. McCabe, who was a private in the Royal Logistic Corps for five years, was jailed for 46 weeks on Friday at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

The court heard McCabe made sexual comments to one woman about her tights and make up, asked her age and where she lived and ripped up a written warning he had been given for his drunken conduct. The former soldier also threw his bank card at an air employee and began dancing in the aisle on the plane in March last year.

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The defendant, who now runs his own construction firm and co-owns a party boat business called The Drunken Anchor, has been handed a lifelong ban from flying with Jet2 and has refused to pay the £5,000 fine the airline had imposed on him.

Sentencing, Sheriff Alison Stirling said the offence had involved “a high level of culpability and a high level of harm”. McCabe, who has two children, was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and was made subject to non-harassment orders banning him from having any contact with the victims for an indefinite period. Solicitor Anna Kocela, defending, said her client is a self-employed building boss and had been drinking excessively at the time of the flight due to a family bereavement.

Previously, prosecutor Miriam Farooq told the court the Jet2 flight took off from Edinburgh Airport bound for Tenerife with around 110 passengers on board at around 8.30am on March 15 last year, reports Daily Record.

Ms Farooq said the flight was packed with families and children and shortly after take off cabin crew had noticed McCabe “making multiple trips to the toilet”.

The fiscal depute said around 90 minutes into the flight a female flight attendant was serving a passenger when she “felt someone behind her touching her buttocks”.

The employee turned round to find McCabe was “looking at her with a smirk on his face” and had asked her “where she bought her tights because he liked them”.

McCabe, from Glasgow, was given a verbal warning on the flight and then ripped up a written warning given to him by the air crew for his shocking behaviour.

A woman was left bitterly jealous after she noticed that children can do one thing on flights that adults cannot, and she said it means they’re practically in first class

Flying as an adult is usually a pretty cramped experience, of course, unless you’re lucky enough to be sitting in first class getting fed delicious food and wine until you reach your destination. However, the average person is not in that privileged position and is actually more likely to be in the middle seat, trying to navigate whether their seatmates will be kind enough to let them have the armrests on either side.

However, one woman pointed out that every time young children fly with a family member, they’re practically “in first class”, joking that they don’t understand “how good they’ve got it”.

TikToker @elkekahler videoed herself on the flight, looking shocked, as she flipped the camera around to show young children lying down in a seat, using luggage as a pillow so they were as comfortable as possible.

They were covered in blankets and fast asleep – a far cry from the experience of most adults, who know how tricky it is to get some shut-eye in the air.

She flipped the camera back onto herself as she looked mortified, and jealous the youngsters were able to lie down and sleep.

Over the top of the video, she hilariously played the song ‘Glamorous’ by Fergie, which contains the lyrics “we’re flying first class, up in the sky, poppin’ champagne, livin’ my life in the fast lane”.

It’s safe to say that these kids were definitely living their best lives when they were able to sleep properly and land in a whole new country without any stress.

Someone in the comments joked that they needed a “tutorial” on how to do that because they wanted to try it for themselves, but if an adult attempted it, their feet would likely be hanging far off their seat and being constantly knocked by the trolley service.

“They’re gonna hate it when they get older and have to sit on aeroplanes normally,” one woman pointed out.

“I’m 19 and still do this,” a woman shared, saying that they were “short enough” to get away with it. But imagine giving it a go only to realise you were too tall? You’d likely be feeling pretty embarrassed.

“My mum prepared the same for my sister and me when I was younger. I can confirm that it’s the comfiest ever,” a TikTok user boasted.

A flight attendant shared: “I used to operate this type of aircraft for Emirates, and we would always have to tell them not to do this because of safety.”

Referring to the blankets, she added: “There is a high risk that you’re not allowed to bring these onto the plane.”

Although it looks like you could make something similar out of a suitcase and a pillow, it’s not confirmed what they actually did.

We’ve all wondered what goes on behind the galley curtain 35,000ft in the air. From the reality of mid-air romances to the one divisive passenger habit that crew members actually love, a flight attendant has spilled all the secrets

For many, the life of a flight attendant is the ultimate daydream: jet-setting to exotic locations, waking up in a new country, and calling the world your office.

But behind the glamorous Instagram posts and the crisp uniforms lies a reality of strict safety protocols, secret signals, and the constant management of hundreds of personalities in a metal tube. Grace Hampson, an international flight attendant, has opened up about what really happens on board.

From debunking myths and to confirming a few surprises along the way, Grace – whose father was a pilot – reveals the truth behind what some may think is the dream job.

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The mile high club myth

It is the oldest cliché in aviation history: doing the deed in the airplane bathroom. But according to Grace, if you are hoping to join the “Mile High Club,” you are likely to be disappointed.

While she admits it isn’t a “total myth,” the reality is far less exciting than the films suggest. “It doesn’t happen often like people think,” Grace tells Sky News.

Between heightened post-9/11 security measures and flight attendants who are trained to vigilantly patrol the cabin, getting away with it is “near on impossible.”

So, while the fantasy persists, the likelihood of sneaking two people into a cupboard-sized toilet without an awkward interception by the crew is slim to none.

The ‘cringe’ habit

There is one passenger behaviour that divides the internet like no other: clapping when the plane lands. It is often mocked as “cringe” or unsophisticated by frequent flyers.

However, Grace confesses that while she has to maintain a professional, stony face, she is actually a fan. “I try to play it cool when passengers clap as the plane lands,” she says, “but deep down, I love it.”

For her, it’s not about the passengers being easily impressed; it’s a moment of recognition for the colleagues up front. “We fly with some talented pilots and they deserve the applause for getting us all there safely.”

The one thing you should never do

While the clapping is secretly appreciated, there is one habit that causes the crew a genuine headache: the mid-boarding seat swap.

We’ve all seen it – someone spots an empty row and tries to jump into it before the doors close. Grace warns that this isn’t just annoying; it’s a safety issue.

“We need all passengers to take their allocated seat for take-off,” she explains. The aircraft’s weight and balance are precisely calculated based on where passengers are sitting.

If everyone starts playing musical chairs, it can affect the plane’s stability. Her advice? Sit where you are told, wait until the seatbelt sign is off, then ask to move.

Being called ‘waitresses’

Perhaps the biggest frustration for crew is the lingering “waitress in the sky” stereotype. Grace stresses that while serving chicken or beef is part of the routine, it is secondary to their real purpose.

“We can deal with a large number of emergencies that have the possibility of emerging in the air, with fewer resources than you would have on the ground,” she notes. From medical incidents to turbulence – which she says she handles calmly to reassure passengers – the crew are safety professionals first, servers second.

Grace’s Insider Travel Hacks

After years of flying, Grace has picked up some elite travel habits:

• The Best Time to Fly: Tuesdays and Wednesdays are cheapest, and morning flights are best because they are less likely to be delayed.
• The Secret Language: Yes, the crew use signals. If you see a subtle hand gesture down the aisle, they are likely signalling for a “top-up of tea or another serving of chicken.”
• Packing: Roll, don’t fold. And stick to a colour palette so you can mix and match outfits without overpacking.

So next time you fly, keep your seatbelt on, don’t try to sneak into the bathroom with your partner, and feel free to clap when the wheels touch the tarmac.

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When you’re already paying hundreds of pounds for flights, baggage, transfers and hotels, it can be a kick in the teeth to then have to fork out for extra legroom on a flight

Experts have revealed exactly what seats to pick when flying with easyJet or Ryanair to get extra legroom for no further price. When it comes to booking a holiday, there are so many costs to think about including flights, hotel, transfers and excursions.

It’s clear why people have an issue with paying extra for an allocated seat when they could already be paying hundreds of pounds for the flights themselves and more for baggage allowance. For some people, paying for seats with extra legroom is an expense they’re just not willing to pay.

Experts at Which? have revealed that you don’t have to pay through the nose to have extra legroom on a number of aircrafts, including some used by easyJet and Ryanair. The expert explained that if you’re flying on a Boeing 737, used by Ryanair, you can choose one of 33 seats to get an inch of extra legroom.

She said: “Want more legroom on a flight? Just sit on the right. Take Ryanair for example almost all of their planes are Boeing 737 so choosing seats D, E or F in rows three to 15 will give you the most legroom.

“With easyJet, meanwhile, you should choose seats D, E or F in rows three to 13 if you’re flying on their Airbus A321neo. It will give you an extra inch of legroom compared to sitting in rows six to 17 on the left hand side of the plane.

“It might not seem like much, but it could make all the difference on a near five hour flight to Tenerife.”

The expert explained the reason there is extra legroom in these seats is due to airlines squeezing in an extra row on the left side of the plane by removing storage lockers.

She continued: “It might make the airlines more money, but squeezing in an extra row can leave us with less room.

“All planes are different, so it’s always worth checking before you book. Just head to Google Flights and type your destination and date in to find the model number.

“Then use seat plan experts AeroLOPA to find your aircraft’s configuration.”

Underneath the video explainer posted by Which?, one commenter warned other viewers about what they will find if they choose one of the seats with extra legroom.

They said: “What they don’t tell you is that there are no windows on those seats.”

EasyJet flies from major UK airports like London Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Belfast. RyanAir fly from airports including London Stansted, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Belfast International.

EasyJet’s seat allocation involves paying to select a specific seat or checking in for free up to 30 days in advance, which assigns a random seat. Ryanair seat allocation is either free and random or reserved and paid.

The festive season is one of the busiest times for travel, and it’s handy to know your rights when it comes to getting a refund and compensation for any delays or cancellations you may encounter

The Christmas period is famously one of the most chaotic times for travel, with thousands of Brits hopping on planes or trains to reunite with family and friends, whether that’s within the UK or abroad. With travel disruption already anticipated in the run-up to Christmas, it’s essential to understand your entitlements regarding refunds and compensation should you face any delays or cancellations.

Multiple strikes have already been confirmed, threatening to cause significant disruption to holiday travel. Approximately 200 check-in and baggage handling workers employed by easyJet at London Luton Airport are set to strike during the final two weekends of December amid an ongoing pay row.

Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport is bracing itself to handle seven million passengers across its four terminals throughout the festive period. It has also emerged that Friday, 20 December, and Sunday, 28 December, are set to be the busiest days for UK airports.

Furthermore, National Rail has confirmed there will be “planned essential engineering works and upgrades taking place as Network Rail works to improve the railway” over the festive period. There may also be reduced services, with some train operators making alterations to their schedules.

So if you’re journeying during the hectic festive season and encounter delays or cancellations, here’s your complete guide to refunds and compensation entitlements.

Flight refunds

If your flight gets cancelled while you’re travelling to or from the UK, you’re legally entitled to either a refund or an alternative flight to your destination, according to MoneySavingExpert. However, there are a few key points that passengers should be aware of:

• The airline is responsible, even if your booking was made through an online travel agency
• If you booked a package holiday, the responsibility lies with the tour operator
• You’re entitled to an alternative flight at the earliest opportunity, and it doesn’t need to be with the same airline
• You can request a different flight, but don’t go ahead and book one yourself

Moreover, if your flight is significantly delayed, which could range from two to four hours, Citizens Advice states that the airline must provide you with:

• Food and drink
• Access to phone calls and emails
• Accommodation if you’re delayed overnight – along with transport between the airport and hotel

For more details, you can visit the Citizens’ Advice website. It’s also advisable to check directly with your airline to see if you qualify for a refund.

Flight compensation

When it comes to flight compensation for delays or cancellations on journeys to or from the UK, the rules can vary. It’s crucial to remember that even if an airline offers a credit note in lieu of a refund, you’re entirely within your rights to demand a cash reimbursement, potentially of up to £520.

As outlined by MoneySavingExpert, under the UK/EU flight delay compensation scheme, certain flights qualify for compensation at a fixed rate. For your flight to be eligible, it must satisfy the following conditions:

• Your flight arrived more than three hours late at its destination
• The flight was scheduled in the past six years
• The delay was the airline’s fault

You may also be eligible for compensation if you were unable to board your flight due to overbooking.

MoneySavingExpert highlights that compensation under EU/UK regulations concerns the “inconvenience of a delay”, rather than reimbursement of the ticket cost. The amount you could claim depends on how long your delay lasted and the distance of your journey.

Furthermore, what matters is your arrival time, not your departure time. Travellers become eligible for compensation when their flight lands more than three hours after the scheduled arrival time.

To determine if you qualify for compensation, you should check directly with your airline.

Rail refunds

National Rail states that if your train experiences delays or cancellations and you choose not to travel, you can secure a refund for your unused ticket without facing any fees from the original seller. If you purchased your ticket from a railway company, their contact information can be found on National Rail’s Find a Train Company page.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that tickets purchased from self-service machines at stations often include instructions on how to request a refund.

Train compensation

Regarding compensation for rail journeys, National Rail confirms that passengers who arrive late at their destination due to cancelled or delayed services may be eligible to claim money back directly from the train operator.

National Rail states that eligibility depends on several factors:

• Train company you travelled with – different companies have different guidelines, but they all offer compensation
• Type of train ticket – compensation is calculated differently depending on the ticket purchased
• Length of the delay – each train company has its own “compensation threshold”

The most effective way to establish whether you qualify for train travel compensation is to check directly with the operator you booked through. Claims can usually be submitted online, and sometimes via post, or even through designated staff at stations.

For further details, you can visit the National Rail website.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took a tour of CECOT in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in March. This week, the Department of Homeland Security signed a contract to buy six planes with which to deport people. File Photo by Tia Dufour/U.S. Department of Homeland Security | License Photo

Dec. 10 (UPI) — The Department of Homeland Security has inked a deal to buy six Boeing 737 planes to deport immigrants.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has used charter planes in the past for deportation flights, but this deal will allow it to operate its own fleet.

The money comes from the $170 billion that Congress authorized for Trump’s immigration control plans in a spending bill earlier this year, according to the Washington Post.

In late October, DHS announced it had deported nearly 600,000 people this year.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to The Post that the planes would save money “by allowing ICE to operate more effectively, including by using more efficient flight patterns.” She said it would save $279 million in taxpayer dollars, though she didn’t elaborate.

“We are delighted to see The Washington Post is highlighting the Trump administration’s cost-effective and innovative ways of delivering on the American people’s mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens,” she said in a statement.

She added that Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem “are committed to quickly and efficiently getting criminal illegal aliens OUT of our country.”

In November, The Wall Street Journal reported that Noem and her chief adviser, Corey Lewandowski, directed ICE officials to buy 10 planes from Spirit Airlines for deportation flights and their own travel. But Spirit didn’t own the planes, which did not have engines.

The DHS contract is with Virginia-based Daedalus Aviation, created in February 2024, according to corporate records, The Post reported. Daedalus’s website says it “offers a full range of commercial and charter aviation services” and “provides comprehensive responsive flight operations tailored to the unique needs of each mission.”

John Sandweg, former acting director of ICE under President Barack Obama, said the purchase shows that ICE has a lot of money, but isn’t likely to be cost-effective.

“It’s so much easier to issue a contract to a company that already manages a fleet of airplanes,” Sandweg told The Post. “So this move I’m surprised by because what the administration wants to accomplish, by and large, can be accomplished through charter flights already.”