Architect convicted after drunken assault on Virgin Atlantic cabin crew

British architect Simone de Gale, 44, has been convicted of four offences following an incident aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight from Dubai to London Heathrow on February 5, 2026. She was found guilty in her absence at Ealing Magistrates’ Court on October 15 after failing to attend her trial, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

The court heard that the confrontation began when cabin crew member Sarah Buckland asked de Gale not to walk through a narrow aisle near passengers, including a family with a sleeping nine-month-old baby. De Gale reportedly responded with abusive language, accused the crew member of racism and declared: “I’m an architect and you’re just a f***ing air hostess.” She was also accused of jabbing Buckland in the chest and grabbing her cardigan. De Gale was convicted of assault by beating, being drunk aboard an aircraft, threatening or abusive behaviour towards a member of aircraft crew, and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Police arrested de Gale after the aircraft landed at Heathrow. Footage released by the Crown Prosecution Service shows her denying that she had touched anyone and claiming she had recorded the incident. The founder of Simone de Gale Architects did not attend the subsequent court proceedings, resulting in the convictions being entered in her absence.