I agree at the seriousness of his actions but I also feel, given the storyline, that two years as "bubbas b**ch" is too harsh. I remember as a younger guy doing a number of grog-fuelled escapades which I later regretted. I'm told not all the neuron pathways in a males brain join up until late 20's (late 50's my wife says) and I have the feeling the social stigma and perhaps airline blacklisting he will/may suffer will be punishment in itself. By all means punish him, but 2 years behind bars I think is inappropriate for one very stupid, but reasonably innocent action. BTW......what happened to VAs RSA obligations?
I think an example has to be made to start to deter people from doing stupid things.
To be fair, this is not the worst example of it. There have been several, more serious (and much more culpable, self-imposed / voluntarily brought-upon) cases before it which have been gravely, inadequately punished, or not at all. There is a serious case to be had when a crime which is committed on the ground (which may or may not be regarded as fairly 'innocuous') occurs in the confines of an aircraft. Unfortunately, the track record of judicial proceedings to date all over the world appears to show that the serious regard for these cases is severely lacking, certainly not commensurate with the significant upsurge in commercial aviation market growth.
As I said, the only real crime on an aircraft that you can seem to commit and actually be slammed down hard for by almost any jurisdiction around the world is terrorism (or attempted terrorism).
RSA is not applicable here, unless the man is making up the story about how he was disoriented (i.e. was it really the drugs or was it really alcohol). I suppose someone in the defence will raise the possibility of negligence or duty of care lacking (e.g. how did this man get to the front to the point where his actions became so disturbing it instigated a hijack call on the part of the pilots; why didn't the FAs ensure he did not get too close, or pull him away quickly, or restrain him etc.). I am not in support at all of any form of voluntary intoxication being acceptable as a form of defence or mitigating circumstances (I can't wait until voluntary intoxication is removed as a valid defence); if the issue really was alcohol, whilst there
may then be a VA RSA issue, the inherent culpability for intoxication and the consequences thereof should be solely that of the perpetrator.
People are responsible for the consequences of their actions. Whilst "excessive" punishment could mean "the end of one's life as they may know it", at the very worst, it is
them who has written their future as such. Without any punishment (or inadequate), however, there is no compunction for the perpetrator to be truly responsible or contrite for their actions, leaving behind people and/or organisations who are left impacted, hurt or shaken.
In reality, will this man get two years? Hell, no! Apart from that it is
up to two years, I think he would be unlucky to get any time in the slammer. I'd be surprised if they record a conviction; I doubt it, especially if someone argues on his defence that he was out of character and it was an unintended side-effect of the drugs.