A DRUNKEN passenger caus-ed panic on a packed holiday jet when he dropped a smouldering cigarette, a court heard.

The incident happened as the flight made its way from Lanzarote to Newcastle Airport on December 5 last year, with 210 passengers and eight crew on board.

Forty minutes into the flight, while at a height of 30,000ft, cabin crew were alerted to the smell of tobacco smoke at the rear of the plane.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that, knowing the crew were on to his illegal smoking, John Donkin, 41, had dropped a lit cigarette on to the carpet and hid it behind his legs as it smouldered.

Donkin was warned about the no-smoking rule - but 30 minutes later concerned passengers told cabin crew that he was smoking again.

They went to the back of the plane and found him in a smoke-filled toilet cubicle.

Donkin had also breached air regulations by drinking his own bottle of spirits throughout the flight which was confiscated by staff.

In interview he said to police: "It was just one cigarette."

Donkin, of Rosewood Square, Grindon, Sunderland, admitted being drunk on an aircraft and damaging property.

He was granted conditional bail. Sentencing was adjourned for three weeks for reports.