A FORMER civil servant accused of starting a “riot” with her mum on board an easyJet flight was just being “chatty” after downing gin to calm her nerves, a court has heard.

Carrie Parkes, 34, and charity manager Karin Parkes, 56, were said to have triggered a ''full on fight'' involving up to 20 men at 30,000ft after they kept swearing.

Staff on the flight from Manchester to Agadir in Morocco tried to calm them down and asked them to behave.

But mum-of-two Carrie stuck her fingers in her ears and said: ''I’m not listening to that vile c..t,'' it was claimed.

A cabin manager also urged the group to refrain from using bad language but was told: ''You can f**k off you c**t. Do what the f**k you want I’m not a**ed. We will see what happens.''

The captain of the aircraft – which had 186 passengers on board – eventually diverted to Casablanca after staff told him the rear of the cabin was ''out of control.''

"OUT OF CONTROL"

During the rampage it was alleged Karin swung a punch at a steward whilst Carrie had to be forcibly held down by other passengers after she demanded to use the toilet when the plane was coming into land.

An almost empty one litre bottle of Gordon’s Pink Gin and empty bottles of vodka were found near their seats.

The pair, both from Blackpool, Lancs were later detained by police after being booed off of the plane.

Both women denied wrongdoing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court and Carrie claimed she had been drinking wine to calm herself down after she realised she did not have her medication for a mental health condition.

She told the hearing: ''I was being extremely chatty and loud and my language isn't the best.

I must have just lost it on that plane. I can't remember anything until coming round in a third world hospital with my mum crying.

"When I get excited I'm not aware of my surroundings my mum pulls me up on it be aware of other people.

"I remember arguing but I have blackouts because of my medication. I have got a whole plane of passengers, 186 people, booing me.

"I must have just lost it on that plane. I can't remember anything until coming round in a third world hospital with my mum crying.
"I apologise for my behaviour. I felt ashamed and humiliated."

The incident on January 19 last year began an hour after flight EZ1905 took off at 3.30pm.

"PANICKING"

Karin was supposed to be going with her partner and two friends but Carrie joined them last minute as one of the friends dropped out due to illness.

Carrie told JPs: ''When I told people I was going to Morocco, they said: 'Oh two women got beheaded there last year' and I was like: 'Mum we are going to end up dead.'

"I was panicking about it and there mixed emotions everywhere.

"I bought a bottle of Pink Gordon's Gin from the duty free and it was in a sealed bag.

"I was reluctant to go where we were going but at the same time excited as it was a holiday.

When I told people I was going to Morocco, they said: 'Oh two women got beheaded there last year' and I was like: 'Mum we are going to end up dead. I was panicking.

"But the happier I get, the louder I get and worse my language gets – it can be terrible.

"I had my headphones on while everyone was being seated as I was just trying to drown out my anxiety because I'm an anxious flyer.

"As the plane started I went to get my meds and realised I didn't have any with me as they were in my hand luggage in the hold.

"I was panicking and I'm a nightmare when I start getting panicky.

"I could feel a panic attack coming on we got up in the air and I was getting worse, more anxious and I was in my mum's ear 24/7.

"I was agitated I was very fidgety. My mum said you can have a drink – just a little cap full to calm your nerves.

DOWNING GIN

''She was then speaking to a big party of 14 guys who go to Morocco every month.

"As soon as I heard they go every month, I was focused on them and I was shouting across and asking a million questions.

"The crew came over and said: 'Can you keep the noise down' and a guy in the middle said: 'You want to swap seats'.

"Me and my mum had a small bottle of wine each and two cans of lemonade. With the lemonade we did have two little shorts of gin and that is when I got louder.

"It was not just me – it was the whole back of the plane. I didn't shout at the crew member whatsoever, he just came over and just shushed us all.

"I was only made aware of the plane landing by my mother. Then the cabin crew said: 'Madam you need to leave the plane.' Everyone was booing me.''

Then something coming over the tannoy saying they are landing the plane because of all this and I was gobsmacked.

Karin, who works for a charity which provides home care to disabled people, told the hearing: ''Carrie started to get a bit anxious and went: 'Mum I haven't got my medication.'

"I was speaking to the gentlemen on the right hand side asking them about Morocco talking about what we did for a living.

"One guy was high up in the government and there was a policeman. But when Carrie started talking to them she got louder and louder. Everybody was talking loudly and laughing we all got on really well.

"Then something coming over the tannoy saying they are landing the plane because of all this and I was gobsmacked.

"Nobody had explained to Carrie why the plane had landed they were asking her to get off. I stood up in her defence because at the end of the day she's a vulnerable adult and I'm her mother.

"I said to the cabin manager: 'You have a duty of care towards my daughter – she has mental health issues.'

"I thought he was being aggressive I didn't think there was any need for it. She didn't say the C-word – I would be absolutely disgusted and Carrie knows that she wouldn't use that word in front of me.''

The two women both deny being drunk on aircraft.

Karin Parkes also denies assault on cabin manager Liam Dickson. A third passenger Jonathan Thomas, 36, also from Blackpool denies being drunk on an aircraft.

The trial continues.

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