Arrested for Being Drunk and Disruptive at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
What Happens Now?
Having a few drinks before a flight isn’t illegal, but when alcohol turns into unruly behavior at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), things can escalate fast. Maybe you had one too many at the airport bar, got into an argument at the gate, or just weren’t on your best behavior after a long layover. Next thing you know, security or the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is involved, and you’re facing charges.
Can you get arrested for being too drunk at the airport?
Being intoxicated at the airport isn’t automatically a crime. However, public intoxication combined with disruptive behavior can lead to criminal charges.
At CLT, law enforcement takes a no-nonsense approach to passengers who interfere with airport operations. The most common charges for intoxicated and disruptive behavior include:
- Public intoxication (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-444) – While North Carolina doesn’t have a statewide public intoxication law, disruptive behavior caused by drunkenness can lead to other charges.
Potential penalties: Misdemeanor charge, fines, and potential mandatory alcohol education or treatment.
- Disorderly conduct (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.4) – If intoxication leads to aggressive, loud, or threatening behavior, you could face this charge.
Potential penalties: Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 60 days in jail.
- Resisting a public officer (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-223) – If you refuse to cooperate with law enforcement, you may be charged with resisting arrest, even if you weren’t violent.
Potential penalties: Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by fines and up to 60 days in jail.
- Trespassing (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-159.13) – If security asks you to leave and you refuse, you could face second-degree trespassing charges or charges for trespass upon airport property (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 63-26.1)
Potential penalties: Class 3 misdemeanor, fine up to $200, and up to 20 days in jail for repeat offenses. If the trespassing occurs in a secured airport area, charges may escalate to a Class 2 misdemeanor, carrying fines determined by the court and up to 60 days in jail. Depending on the circumstances, mandatory alcohol education or treatment may also be required.
- Interfering with a flight crew (49 U.S. Code § 46504) – If you cause a disruption on the plane, this federal law can apply, leading to serious penalties.
Potential penalties: This is a federal offense with fines of up to $35,000 and up to 20 years in federal prison.
What happens if you’re arrested for being drunk and disruptive?
If you’re causing a scene, airport security or CMPD officers will likely intervene. Here’s what typically happens next:
- You may be warned or escorted out of the airport. If the behavior is mild and stops when addressed, security might just give you a warning.
- You could be denied boarding. Airlines have the right to refuse service to intoxicated passengers. If you’re too drunk to board, you may have to wait for a later flight.
- You might be arrested. If the situation escalates, you could be taken into custody and booked at the Mecklenburg County Jail. Depending on the charge, you may be released with a citation or held until sober.
Notable alcohol-related arrests at CLT
- Woman Fined Nearly $82,000 for Unruly Behavior (2021): A woman flying to CLT was hit with a record FAA fine of nearly $82,000 after assaulting flight attendants, trying to open the aircraft door mid-flight, and spitting at crew members. This case was one of the most severe disruptions reported in recent years, and it underscores how federal authorities do not take lightly to intoxicated and violent passengers. Additionally, new legislation could ban such offenders from flying permanently. Read more here.
- Passenger kicked off flight after drunken altercation (February 2018): A passenger exhibiting erratic behavior was removed from an American Airlines flight bound for Cincinnati. After deplaning, the individual stripped off his shirt and engaged in physical altercations with ground crew members on the tarmac. The incident escalated quickly, drawing significant attention and intervention from law enforcement. Read more here.
- Surge in unruly passengers at CLT during the 2021 holiday rush: As holiday travel ramped up, flight attendants based in Charlotte reported record numbers of intoxicated and aggressive passengers, many of whom had to be removed from flights. The stress of pandemic-related regulations, alcohol consumption, and overcrowding led to a sharp increase in altercations, with some passengers facing disorderly conduct and public intoxication charges. Read more here.
Will an arrest affect future travel?
An arrest at CLT can potentially impact future travel. If you’re convicted of a serious offense, you could be placed on an airline’s no-fly list, meaning you’ll need to find another carrier (or, in extreme cases, alternative transportation).
Additionally, if you travel internationally, some countries (i.e. Canada) have strict entry restrictions for individuals with certain criminal records.
A good lawyer can make all the difference
Having a drink at the airport is perfectly legal, but causing a scene, becoming aggressive, or refusing to comply with security might not be. If you’ve been arrested at CLT for public intoxication or disruptive behavior, don’t take the charge lightly. The attorneys at Jetton & Meredith understand North Carolina’s laws and can help you navigate the legal process.
If you need legal guidance after an airport-related arrest, call us today. The sooner you get legal help, the better your chances of reducing or dismissing the charges.
FLIGHT IDIOT
Drunk stag do Brit who was hauled off Ryanair plane by heavily armed French cops after ‘trying to open door’ is named
He later posted a photo on social media seemingly mocking his arrest
A DRUNK Brit yob who scrapped with armed police forcing a Ryanair flight to make an emergency landing has been named.
Daniel Ashley-Laws was filmed being hauled off the plane by French cops after “trying to open an emergency door”.
Sign up for The Sun newsletter
Email address
Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy
The dad, who also goes by the name Dan Rizz on social media, appears to be the passenger from the viral clip showing a tattooed man being dragged off the flight by his ear.
He was thought to be in custody in Toulouse, where the plane was forced to land, on Monday but images posted online showed him and his pals in Benidorm.
A photo later posted on social media shows the bald-headed man giggling in a Hawaiian shirt as two of his mates yank his ear – apparently mimicking the French cops.
It is captioned: “Benni final boss – some French lads lol madness.”
read more in world news
China sentences 11 members of mafia family to DEATH over ‘scam factories’NUKES OF HAZARD Britain should shrink its nuclear arsenal, says world’s most armed nation
Ashley-Laws is said to be a member of the rowdy stag do that caused trouble on board the Alicante-bound flight which departed from Luton Airport on Friday.
A police source said: “He was next to an emergency door, and trying to open it.
“It was terrifying for everybody else on the flight. The pilot had no other option except to land the plane.”
The pilot was forced to land in Toulouse, where a unit of the Air Transport Gendarmerie Company (CGTA) was waiting.
Most read in The Sun
EuroMillions LIVE: National Lottery numbers and Thunderball draw tonight
Moment US blows up narco boat in first strike since Trump captured Maduro
Trump plots oil blockade & warns Cuba to ‘make a deal before it’s too late’
Hero soldier shot by US in friendly fire ‘deeply let down’ by Trump slur
The builder and his son were among the five blokes dragged off by elite special forces – but Ashley-Laws didn’t go quietly.
Refusing to stand up, footage posted online shows the man saying: “No, no, no, no – no f***ing way.”
He then climbs onto the seat and can be seen fighting with the two officers trying to arrest him.
At one point, he almost flies into the passengers across the aisle.
The cops then grab him by the neck and escort him off the flight as he’s heard protesting: “I’m coming, you f***.”
Meanwhile, another man shouts: “They started it – that’s my dad!”
The lad is also then removed from the aircraft fuming: “Get your f***ing phone out my face.”
The police source said: “His blood alcohol level was so high that it was a number of hours before he could be spoken to.”
Four of his friends were also arrested but it is unclear whether they face any charges.
A passenger said: “When it became clear that the majority of the group, excluding the stag himself, were being removed from the aircraft, tensions escalated further.”
After the troublemakers were removed, the flight was cleared for take-off and left Toulouse-Blagnac airport at 10.15pm.
CGTA commander Ludovic Fornari praised the “extreme professionalism” of his team and the other French units “who cooperated with us”.
The owner of the TikTok account who posted the video claimed the men were heavily boozed up – and had been openly drinking duty-free in the departure lounge.
The men could “barely stand up” shortly before the flight’s departure, it was claimed.
As in Britain, the maximum penalty for “endangering the safety of an aircraft” in France is five years in prison, plus a fine equivalent to around £60,000.
Anyone charged with being “drunk on a plane” in France or in the UK faces a maximum sentence of two years, with a fine equivalent to around £4,000.
A Ryanair spokesman said: “This flight from London-Luton to Alicante was diverted to Toulouse after several passengers disrupted the flight.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Lando Norris’ girlfriend Margarida Corceiro sizzles as she strips for shootTATTS WILD Australian Open star goes viral for surprise face tattoos as she reveals meaning
“The crew then requested the intervention of the police, who met the plane upon arrival at Toulouse airport and disembarked these passengers before the flight returned to its original destination.
“Ryanair has a zero-tolerance policy for unacceptable passenger behaviour and will continue to take strict measures to address it, ensuring all passengers and crew have a smooth and enjoyable journey, without unnecessary disruption.”
