A drunk airline passenger has been told by a judge he committed a dangerous offence when he stole life jackets from an easyJet flight.
Alexander Bolam was flying from Bristol to Newcastle Airport after drinking 10 bottles of larger last month.
The 23-year-old took four life-jackets from under the seats when the plane came into land.
The theft was only discovered when air hostesses checked under the seats before the next flight.
It has been revealed that Captain Pete Barnes, the pilot who died in a helicopter crash in central London this morning, spent time working in the North East.
In 2004 he helped rescue a motorist from a flooded ford in County Durham, while working for the Great North Air Ambulance.
He also flew the Newcastle Traffic & Travel helicopter as the Voice of Metro FM and worked as a helicopter instructor.
Newcastle Airport has called on the government to cut Air Passenger Duty (APD) to help regional airports.
From next April, Air Passenger Duty will rise to £13 per head from the current £12, for any internal UK flight and short haul destinations to Europe.
Going much further is already very pricey. A family of four flying to the States currently pays £268 in tax compared with just £38 for a similar journey from France.
Newcastle Airport's Graeme Mason was one of a number of regional airport executives to give evidence before the Commons Transport Select committee. He told MPs the biggest single immediate difference ministers could make to the success of local airport would be a cut in Air Passenger Duty.
Durham Tees Valley airport have expressed their "acute disappointment" over their lack of funding from the Regional Growth Fund.
The airport were hoping for a £5.9m grant in support of its Southside development.
– Statement from Durham Tees Valley airport's Board of Directors“The Airport has now been notified officially that the Regional Growth Fund bid for £5.9m in support of the Southside development was unsuccessful.
"The Directors expressed acute disappointment and will be seeking an explanation for the decision.
The Board also reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing the Southside scheme which is vital to providing sustainable aviation at the Airport.”
The owners of Durham Tees Valley Airport say they're committed to creating a huge freight operation even though it looks like they've missed out in the latest round of the Regional Growth Fund.
Plans to develop land around Durham Tees Valley airport has been jeopardised after a multi-million pound funding bid was declined.
Read the full storyNew routes to Russia, Iceland and North Africa are to be introduced from Newcastle Airport.
Airline Jet2 will operate direct flights to St Petersburg, Reykjavík and Marrakech as part of their city break weekend packages.
Northumbria Police say they believe the National Police Air Service will provide greater flexibility and effective coverage across the region.
The new service will replace localised helicopter operations when it launches in the North East next April.
Two people have been treated in hospital after their microlight crashed in Northumberland on Saturday.
Ambulance and fire crews were called to Eshott Airfield at about 1.45 pm.
The pilot, a 50-year-old man, and the passenger, a 20-year-old woman, were treated for suspected broken bones.
One of the world's largest passenger planes landed at Newcastle Airport today.
The Boeing 777 has replaced a smaller aircraft and will now fly daily to Dubai.
