A British Airways passenger who was caught vaping in the toilet during a flight from New York to Heathrow later threatened an American couple, telling them he would 'bash their heads together,' a court has heard.
Incident on Overnight Flight
Louis Gaston, 31, from Lambeth, south London, was found guilty of two counts of assault by beating, one count of failing to obey a pilot's lawful commands, and one count of smoking on an aircraft. The incident occurred on BA flight BA172 from New York's JFK airport to London Heathrow on November 23, 2025.
Uxbridge Magistrates' Court heard that towards the end of the six-hour overnight flight, cabin crew noticed Gaston was out of his seat. A lead crew member found him in the toilet and knocked on the door, instructing him to return to his seat for landing. When he opened the door, she smelled a 'weed smell' similar to CBD oil and saw a 'vapour mist' inside. Gaston then shut the door again.
Gaston claimed the smell and vapour came from the plane's air freshener, which he had sprayed after 'relieving his bowels.' However, crew members testified it did not resemble the air freshener used on board. A second crew member pushed the door open and again told Gaston to return to his seat. He responded by shouting, accusing the flight attendant of coming on to him, and threatened to make a complaint.
Gaston admitted to being a regular cannabis smoker who had 'smoked a spliff' in New York before the flight and had consumed 'two or three' gin and tonics plus some vodka. He denied being drunk.
Confrontation After Landing
After landing, Gaston sat in a seat near the toilet and ignored instructions to fasten his seatbelt, prompting a nearby passenger to do it for him. As the plane waited on the tarmac for buses, Gaston tried to return to his correct seat to retrieve his hand luggage, but the aisle was crowded.
American couple Zachary Lowry and Laurel Dillon, seated in front of his assigned seat, asked him to wait. Gaston instead pushed past them three or four times, according to the court. On the final occasion, he placed his hand on Ms Dillon's arm and hip and shoved her into her seat so hard that she later sustained bruises.
Gaston denied using force beyond 'brushing past' them but admitted saying 'move out of my f****** way' or 'let me f****** get by.' He also denied making threats. However, Ms Dillon testified via video link from the US that Gaston said: 'You do not want to see me off this plane, you had better move or I will hurt you.' She added he stated: 'If you do not make room, I'm going to make room, and I will bash your heads together.'
Mr Lowry said the incident left him 'uncomfortable, embarrassed and frustrated.' He added that they left the plane in a police van and would have taken precautions if they had left normally.
Court Verdict
Gaston's defence solicitor argued the case was not proven beyond reasonable doubt, noting no one saw him vaping and suggesting the couple could have accommodated him. But District Judge Kathryn Verghis found Gaston guilty on all four charges, describing his behaviour as 'defiant, angry, confrontational.' She said: 'I come to the conclusion that you were vaping, you were then unco-operative sitting, so much so a passenger helped you. This gives a very clear picture of your defiant, angry, confrontational behaviour.'
Gaston is due to be sentenced in June.
