News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A flight full of British holidaymakers was delayed for four hours when a Portuguese crew member was arrested for being DRUNK - after reportedly drinking the night away after his nation's Euro 2016 win.

More than 140 passengers were crushed when the captain announced to the departure lounge that the senior male staff member had turned up "drunk on duty".

The Small Planet Airlines flight from Gatwick to Corfu was due to leave at 9.10am on Monday but didn't take off until 1.23pm.

The captain apologised to passengers over the tannoy before shocked onlookers watched as the Portuguese national was taken away by police.

An insider said the crew member turned up late and "well over the limit" after just a few hours sleep following Portugal's 1-0 Euro 2016 win over France - and even posted about it on Facebook.

The red-faced air host was understood to have been out drinking with a colleague due to work on the 5.20pm Gatwick flight to Tirana, which was also delayed.

A 45-year-old man from London was arrested and bailed, police confirmed.

An airport source said: "The cabin crew turned up to do the security check.

"The flight deck suspected that he was drunk for duty.

(Image: EPA)

"He had been out with another senior cabin crew member who was due to operate later.

"He didn't get to bed until the early hours of the morning. He only had a few hours sleep. He was well and truly over the limit.

"The captain made an announcement to the passengers to say that the delay was due to a senior cabin crew member turning up drunk on duty.

"The crew member is Portuguese and had gone out to watch the football last night. When he made the announcement everyone was like 'oh my god'.

"There was in excess of 140 passengers waiting at gate two. Their reaction was complete dismay. Children were screaming because they were upset.

"The flight deck had to call police. The police arrived and everyone saw it.

"They arrested him under the aviation act."

(Image: SWNS)

The flight to Corfu was supposed to leave at 9.10am from gate two but the tipsy crew member didn't turn up until 10.40am.

He was then arrested and the flight taxied at 1.07pm, and took off at 1.23pm.

A second flight by the same airline to Tirana scheduled to leave at 5.20pm on Monday but was delayed until nearly 8pm, according to the Gatwick airport website.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said a 45-year-old man had been arrested and bailed.

He said: "At 9.05am on Monday (11 July) police at Gatwick Airport were made aware that an airline crew member had failed to report for duty and there were concerns for his welfare.

"His absence meant that the airline's scheduled 9.10am flight to Corfu was unable to take off.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

"The 45-year-old man, from London, eventually arrived at 10.40am.

"Due to the fact that he smelled strongly of alcohol, he was not permitted to board the aircraft and was arrested on suspicion of acting as a member of the crew of an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol.

"He was bailed to return on September 8."

Small Planet Airlines confirmed a crew member was "removed from his duties due to suspected intoxication".

A spokesperson said: "Small Planet Airlines sincerely apologises to passengers regarding the delay of the return flights London Gatwick to Corfu and Gatwick to Tirana due to the need to invite another cabin crew member to cover the missing one and perform duties.

"Small Planet Airlines apply zero tolerance policy on alcohol consumption during the duty and 8 hours before the duty.

(Image: Getty)

"We apply even stricter rule on alcohol consumption by staff members than recommended by the European Aviation Safety Agency.

"Coming for duty being intoxicated is a gross misconduct and leads to a dismissal of a staff member.

"Flights from London Gatwick to Corfu departed on 12:00 local time after the delay of 3 hours and 50 minutes."

The spokesperson said delay time was calculated from 9.10am, until the plane "starts moving" meaning it recorded a delay of three hours and 20 minutes.

According to the website, Small Planet Airlines started operations in 2009 and "since then became one of the fastest growing independent leisure airlines in Europe".