English tourists have too much fun too soon

Jace Radke

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001 | 8:59 a.m.

Two Englishmen who flew into McCarran International Airport Thursday had the ultimate Las Vegas experience planned: reservations at the Bellagio, tickets to watch fellow countryman Lennox Lewis regain his championship and tickets for the Britney Spears concert the following night.

The two men instead spent their weekend in the North Las Vegas jail, their accommodations courtesy of the FBI.

It might have been a case of having too much fun too soon.

Christopher Barry Redford, 39, and Peter Matthew Medcalf, 38, were arrested Thursday afternoon at McCarran on federal charges of intimidating and interfering with the flight crew and attendants on Virgin Atlantic Flight 043.

The residents of Kent, England, were scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court today.

A complaint filed Friday alleges the two men swore at flight attendants, demanded liquor and made threats. It adds that Redford exposed himself and mooned flight attendants.

Redford and Medcalf reportedly boarded the flight from London to Las Vegas with two other men, and all four appeared to be drunk. The flight crew consulted with ground personnel before takeoff, and it was decided that the group would be allowed to fly, according to the complaint.

About three hours into the 10 1/2-hour flight, the complaint says, Medcalf began swearing at one of the flight attendants. The flight attendant told the FBI she felt threatened. Medcalf is also accused of using profane language toward the crew and of loud and disruptive behavior.

Medcalf and Redford were served alcohol on the flight, and began singing and disturbing other passengers, according to the complaint. One flight attendant told the FBI that she observed Redford taking beer from one of the plane's galleys without permission.

When Redford refused to sit down after being directed to do so by a female flight attendant, he exposed himself to her, the complaint alleges. The complaint also states that Redford exposed the top half of his buttocks to another flight attendant.

The plane's captain informed the men through the flight attendants that their behavior affected the "good order and discipline and could not be allowed."

The captain then advised Salt Lake City air traffic control that the passengers had "refused to obey the lawful command of the captain and had committed an act endangering the safety of the aircraft." When Flight 043 landed, the men were greeted by FBI agents and taken for their weekend stay behind bars.