A French national had his Bermuda work permit revoked after he was arrested for smoking and being drunk and smoking on a flight to the Island.

Thierry Muller's drinking binge began before he boarded British Airways flight 2233 at the UK's Gatwick Airport and got him fired before his first day of work.

The 45-year-old pleaded guilty yesterday to being drunk in an aircraft, smoking in an aircraft and not complying with a flight attendant's order to stop drinking.

Translator Marc Morabito helped put the charges to Muller, a technician hired to work on refurbishments to Tynes Bay Incinerator.

Government refused to comment on whether his hiring was in contravention of its work permit holder's competency with English language policy.

Muller's lawyer Kendrick James told Magistrates' Court his client does not speak English and had never flown before, so did not realise he was not allowed to smoke.

Crown counsul Robert Welling said Muller came to the attention of cabin staff on the Wednesday flight after a passenger smelled smoke coming from the bathroom.

Crew identified Muller as the person in the bathroom and warned him not to smoke on the plane.

Muller seemed to understand, but shrugged his shoulders dismissively.

Believing Muller to be drunk, flight attendants stopped serving him alcohol but found him drinking again a short time later.

When confronted by attendants, Muller produced a cell phone and held it to his ear.

They later discovered the cell phone was actually turned off, but reported the incidents to the plane's captain.

He instructed the cabin manager to issue Muller a written warning to stop drinking.

"The defendant was having none of it," said Mr. Welling. "He kept on trying to order drinks."

Muller then went to the bathroom and pressed the emergency call button. Flight attendants found him there, brushing his teeth and laughing.

He was arrested by Police as soon as the plane landed.

In interviews, Muller told officers that he had five beers at London Gatwick before he boarded the plane, and had drunk wine and whisky while onboard.

In court yesterday he was flanked by Mr. Morabito and French Consul Riquette Bonne-Smith.

"The facts of this matter are not in the extreme," his lawyer said. "There was no disruption other than the potential of problems."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined Muller $1,000 for being drunk on a plane and another $1,000 for failing to comply with the orders of the flight attendant.

Muller was also fined $2,000 for smoking on the aircraft.

"The signs are designed in such a way that they are multilingual, for lack of a better word," Mr. Warner said.

"When you behave in this way then action must be taken."

If Muller is unable to pay the fines he faces three months' imprisonment for each offence. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

British Airways spokesperson Sallie Singleton said that abusive passengers have in the past been banned from flying on British Airways but no decision had been made in this case.

"We always take this sort of incident very seriously," she said.

Government's work permit holders' competency with the English language policy came into effect on April 1.

It was introduced by Immigration Minister David Burch who said guest workers would not be expected to speak flawless English but should be understood by most residents.

"While it is appreciated that employers in a number of industries are finding it more and more difficult to recruit from English-speaking countries, it is unacceptable to have foreigners serving persons, whether it is in a restaurant, a hotel or a rest home, who cannot communicate effectively in English," he said then.

"Further, a lack of competence in English is dangerous in a job where one has to also read prescriptions or the labels of dangerous chemicals. If an English-speaking person landed in France and wandered around expecting everyone to speak English, they're not going to have a good time."

An Immigration spokesperson yesterday declined to comment.