Cambridge academic Dr Adam Coutts has been given a suspended prison sentence after racially abusing a fellow passenger on a British Airways flight, calling him a "jihadist" and telling him to "blow himself up". Coutts, 48, who has advised the UN on migration and refugees, launched the drunken tirade against Hammad Aziz and his wife Fatima Hashim during a flight from Cairo to Heathrow, also accusing the couple of being in an illegal marriage before grabbing Mr Aziz's phone when challenged over his behaviour.

Uxbridge Magistrates' Court heard Coutts admitted two counts of racially aggravated harassment, common assault, criminal damage and being drunk on a plane following the incident on 15 July. Judge Mohammed Bashir sentenced him to 16 months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, citing "substantial personal mitigation" including his previous good character, and ordered him to pay a total of £2,204 in fines, compensation and a victim surcharge. The court was told Coutts, who is being treated for alcohol abuse and mental health issues, has not lectured at Cambridge since 2022 but remains listed as a research associate and senior research fellow there.