The 1000 Day Holiday

A drunken French tourist with a fear of flying tried to open an Australia-bound jet passenger door in mid-flight to have a cigarette, a Brisbane court has heard.

She was seen walking towards one of the aircraft’s emergency exits with an unlit cigarette and a lighter in her hand and began tampering with the door.

But a flight attendant intervened and took Sellies back to her seat.

Sellies was watched closely until the plane landed in Brisbane, where it was met by Australian Federal Police and she was arrested and charged.

Defence lawyer Helen Shilton told the court Sellies had been terrified of flying and had taken sleeping tablets and alcohol before take-off.

She had no memory of what had happened on the flight and also had a history of sleepwalking, Ms Shilton said.

Sleepwalking used as a defense for odd behaviour