Raging businessman 'hung on to helicopter as it took off'

A businessman enraged that a helicopter blew debris on to his car and garden tried to cling to it as it took off, a court heard. Houshang Jafari, 59, lost his temper as the aircraft landed near his £1million flat, the jury was told. He kicked the helicopter, tried to open the pilot's door and hurled a carrier bag at the windscreen, it was alleged. Then he held on to the skid bar as terrified pilot Mark Blokland tried to take off, the prosecution claim.

The heavily built businessman caused the helicopter to pitch wildly but it eventually lifted off. Mr Jafari was allegedly angry after it blew debris at his Land Rover as it landed in gardens shared by flat owners in a converted manor house. Yesterday, accused of putting the pilot and passengers in " catastrophic danger", he denied endangering aircraft safety.



Private pilot Mr Blokland hired the helicopter for a lunch outing with wife Tammy and two friends who also had a £1.2million flat in Dower House at Frenchay, Bristol. James Patrick, prosecuting, said: "Mr Jafari was extremely angry, some would say livid. He had a carrier bag which he threw at the helicopter. Had it gone into the rotor it could have been catastrophic. Mr Blokland saw Mr Jafari's face twisted in anger. He kicked the aircraft and tried the door. "The people inside were terrified. The pilot had just about enough rotor speed to take off and so they began to rise.

"Mr Jafari was causing the helicopter to tilt to a hugely dangerous angle. Fortunately Mr Blokland managed to keep control and he took off." Mr Blokland told the court he could not power the helicopter down as the blades may have taken the man's head off. He went on: "He came storming to the helicopter and flung something at the bubble. The individual was now extremely aggressive. He came around the pilot's side door and I was really scared." He said he had not flown since that day. As a result his pilot's licence had lapsed. The Bristol crown court trial continues.