Blue star Lee Ryan ‘assaulted by passenger on Turkish Airlines flight’ with bandmates rushing in to help
BLUE star Lee Ryan was allegedly assaulted by a male passenger while on a Turkish Airlines flight today.
In a statement, the boyband claimed Ryan, 39, was “attacked” during the flight from Georgia to Istanbul after he “put his feet on the passenger’s seat”.
The alleged physical assault continued after the plane landed, with the male passenger pushing Ryan down a flight of stairs, the band claim.
He injured his leg in the “attack”.
Blue said in a statement on Instagram: “While on a flight from Georgia to Istanbul today, Lee Ryan was physically assaulted by a male passenger.
“Lee and the rest of the band defended him from the attack, which continued after the plane had landed when when the passenger pushed Lee down a flight of stairs causing an injury to his leg.”
Police spoke to both parties with Ryan giving a statement to the cops which was supported by the rest of the band.
The statement adds: “Ryan was not arrested, detained or charged with any offence and after giving his statement, was free to continue his journey.
“The assault occurred after Lee had put his feet on the seat which was considered culturally insensitive and for which Lee has apologised for any unknowing offence caused.”
Ryan is said to have apologised for causing any unknowing offence.
It comes as Ryan is facing his own legal battle and is due to appear in court on a race charge following a bust-up on a plane.
It’s claimed the Blue singer was drunkenly abusive to an air hostess.
The Sun revealed in August that he was arrested over the incident on a British Airways flight from Glasgow to London City airport.
He later said he was seeking professional help for alcohol problems.
Lee pleaded guilty to being drunk on an aircraft at a court hearing in November.
He denied assault by beating, assaulting a police officer and behaving in an abusive way towards a cabin crew member at the Uxbridge magistrates hearing.
The dad of three faces a trial on Thursday on those charges plus a fourth of racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment.
It is alleged he became disruptive during July’s flight. He was nicked when it landed, taken away in handcuffs and spent the night in a cell.
Ryan, who formed the boy band in 2000 with Antony Costa, Duncan James and Simon Webbe, will go on trial at Ealing magistrates’ court.