Simone Burns: Air rage lawyer found dead at Beachy Head days after prison release

A human rights lawyer jailed for racially abusing staff after being refused alcohol on an Air India flight has been found dead.

The body of Simone Burns, 50, was discovered at Beachy Head in Sussex just days after she was released from Bronzefield women’s prison.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “The body of a woman found at Beachy Head on 1 June has been identified as Simone Burns from Hove.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and the next of kin have been informed.

“The matter has been passed to the coroner’s officer.”

The lawyer, known as Simone O’Broin, admitted being drunk on an aircraft and assault by beating following the incident on a flight to London on 11 November last year.

After being served three bottles of wine with breakfast immediately after taking off from Mumbai, she got up from her business class seat and began swearing and screaming when she was refused more alcohol.

She was filmed shouting that she was a “f****** international lawyer” and telling staff to “f*** off” and called them “f****** Indian money-grabbing c****”.

She marched to the area where alcohol was being served to again demand more, and then spat in the face of a cabin supervisor, who tried to intervene, when she refused to give her any.

Burns also grabbed the attendant by her right upper arm and squeezed it before going on to abuse other crew members and passengers.

During the flight, she also smoked a cigarette in the toilets and was arrested after touching down in London.

She told the court her actions were out of character and had been driven by a “mixture of altitude, consumption of drink and anxiety”.

Burns was given a six-month prison sentence at Isleworth Crown Court in April and had reportedly been released on licence.

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

(c) Sky News 2019: Simone Burns: Air rage lawyer found dead at Beachy Head days after prison release