Drunk Murad Sabir, 42, of Rochdale ‘sexually assaulted female cabin crew member before attacking her colleagues’ on British Airways flight to London pleads not guilty.

 6 January 2026

Rene de Silva, prosecuting, told Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court: ‘The defendant Murad Sabir, 42, of Drake Street, Rochdale was on board drinking vodka throughout the flight.

‘He was intoxicated and committed all the other offences fuelled by his intoxication.’

The prosecutor continued: ‘The sexual assault is touching of the breast of one of the cabin crew over their clothing.

‘Murad Sabir, 42, of Rochdale touches her breast and puts his arm around her neck.

‘Murad Sabir, 42, of Rochdale has then grabbed another cabin crew member by the back of the head and another cabin crew member describes witnessing the sexual assault of their colleague.

‘Another cabin crew member refers to being hugged by the defendant Murad Sabir, 42, of Rochdale.’

Horrified passengers tried to intervene with one getting the feeling ‘the defendant was going to punch him’, the prosecutor added.

Murad Sabir, 42, of Rochdale, appeared in court in a black jacket with grey trousers and black loafers, wearing glasses.

He is charged with one count of sexual assault, three counts of assault by beating and one count of entering an aircraft when drunk.

Murad Sabir, 42, of Rochdale is also charged with one count of intentionally interfering with the performance of the cabin crew’s duty and one count of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards the cabin crew.

Murad Sabir, 42, of Rochdale will plead not guilty to any of the offences, his lawyer Antonia Attard said.

He was released on unconditional bail while he waits for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on February 3.

Magistrate Wendy Drinkwater told him: ‘If you don’t turn up at your next hearing, you will be committing a separate offence.

‘If you commit any offence while on bail, it will be treated more seriously.’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15439013/Vodka-binging-businessman-sexually-assaulted-female-cabin-crew-member-attacking-colleagues-British-Airways-flight-London.html

42-year-old businessman from Rochdale, Murad Sabir, charged with sexual assault, assault, and disruptive behavior on a British Airways flight from Dubai to London. Sabir allegedly drank excessively, sexually assaulted a stewardess, attacked crew members, and threatened passengers. He faces multiple charges and is out on bail until February third.

The name Sabir is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word “sabr,” which translates to patience or perseverance, symbolizing endurance and resilience.