A plane passenger has appeared in court accused of dropping a lit cigarette on the carpet which could have set fire to a packed holiday jet.
John Donkin, 41, is alleged to have stubbed out a cigarette before dropping a lit one on the carpet after he was confronted by a hostess.
The incident allegedly happened 40 minutes into the flight as the Span Air airbus made its way from Lanzarote to Newcastle Airport on December 5 last year with 210 passengers and eight crew on board.
Donkin, of Rosewood Square, Grindon, Sunderland, is charged with endangering the safety of passengers and criminal damage.
He appeared before magistrates in Newcastle today, but did not enter a plea.
He is due to appear before magistrates again on May 1 when the case is expected to be committed to crown court for trail.
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