A drunken passenger who forced a plane to divert to Bermuda after he threatened cabin crew was fined $1,500 yesterday.

James Rogers, from West Sussex in England, was handed over to Bermuda police officers after the flight from London to Cancun in Mexico made an emergency landing on the island, Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Nicole Smith said Rogers, 39, became aggressive on the TUI airline’s flight, demanded more alcohol from cabin crew and told them he was a boxer.

He shouted at the crew and said: “I’m going to punch you in the face and knock you out. I’ll kick off, I’ll smoke in the toilet.”

A cabin crew member later caught Rogers coming out of the plane toilet smelling of cigarette smoke. The captain decided to land in Bermuda and Rogers was arrested.

The court heard that Rogers threw himself to the ground and banged his head several times on the floor, which caused abrasions to his face.

He pleaded guilty to being drunk on a plane, smoking a cigarette on board and acting in a disorderly manner.

Rogers — who appeared in court with scratches on his face — at first denied the first two charges.

But when he was told he would have to stand trial, he changed his plea to guilty on all three charges.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo fined Rogers $500 on each charge.

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