Friday, April 04, 2008

Bailed Naomi Campbell could face six months in prison for 'assaulting police officer' on flight

Bailed Naomi Campbell could face six months in prison for 'assaulting police officer' on flight


Foul-tempered supermodel Naom
i Campbell could face six months in prison after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer on a British Airways flight.

The supermodel has now been released on bail after apparently having a furious row with BA cabin crew over a missing bag at Heathrow's Terminal.

Police were called, and witnesses claim she was 'virtually dragged' out of the First Class cabin and off the plane in handcuffs.
During the ruckus she spat at an officer, one onlooker claimed.

The drama erupted just minutes before her flight to Los Angeles was due to take off.

Miss Campbell, 37, who was to appear on a television programme in the U.S., was apparently told that one of her two bags had not been loaded on to the plane.

The bag in question, thought to contain clothes for her TV appearance, was said to be "very heavy".

Witnesses said the model began screaming and swearing at staff, waving her arms.

After a "sustained" period of alleged abuse she got off the plane before boarding it again and continuing to shout and swear - prompting BA staff to call the police.

Up to four officers boarded the transatlantic airliner and arrested Miss Campbell.

They put her into handcuffs and after a struggle managed to get her off the aircraft, sources said.

The entire incident lasted for around 40 minutes.

A witness said: "She was screaming and shouting, effing and blinding and complaining that she did not have her clothes for her television appearance.

"I've never seen anything like it."


Another said: "She attacked a male police officer and spat at him."

Miss Campbell, who is known for her fiery temper, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and taken to Heathrow police station.

She re-emerged late last night. So far no charges have been brought.

The incident aboard BA flight 269 marked the climax of a horror week for the airline.

British Airways has been at the centre of the lost baggage fiasco which has marred the opening of Heathrow's flagship £4.3billion Terminal 5. It has cancelled nearly 500 flights and lost up to 28,000 bags.

Temper tantrum: Last year she completed five days community service for attacking her maid

Miss Campbell has a long history of temper tantrums and of attacking her staff. In 1998 , the model - then 27 - attached a fan who filmed her asleep on a plane.

Naomi - in first class with Kate Moss - tried to grab the South African's camera before crew calmed her down.

In 2000, she admitted attacking her personal assistant Georgina Galanis with a phone and was sent to attend anger management classes.

But in 2006, she was sentenced to five days community service for throwing a mobile phone at her maid Ana Scovlavino.

Another maid, Gaby Gibson, sued Naomi in the same year, claiming she was assaulted and verbally abused.

The flight Miss Campbell was booked on was due to take off at 4pm yesterday, but was already delayed. It finally took off at 6.07pm after her other luggage was removed from the plane.

A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed that officers had attended a disturbance at Terminal-5, adding: "A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and taken to Heathrow police station.

"She has been released on bail pending further inquiries, to return at a date in late May."

Last night, Miss Campbell's spokesman evaded questions about her current mental state.

Asked whether she had dealt with the anger management issues she has suffered from, the spokesman said: "I do not have an official line on that. She has been working a lot.

"She has been in meetings this week - work meetings that is. She has been good.

"Someone not in a good mental state would not be working or with friends."

• Hundreds of British Airways and easyJet passengers were left without luggage when the baggage system at Gatwick Airport failed yesterday.
The fault apparently lay with airport operator BAA।




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