Simone Burns: Lawyer jailed for spitting at flight attendant in racist tirade found dead at Beachy Head days after release

Simone Burns: the lawyer was jailed over a racist tirade on a flight. She has since been found dead at Beachy Head
PA

A lawyer jailed for spitting at a flight attendant during a racist, foul-mouthed tirade has been found dead at Beachy Head.

The body of Simone Burns, 50, was discovered at the foot of the East Sussex cliffs on June 1, it has been confirmed.

Her death came just 13 days after she was released on licence from prison following the rant against Air India staff last year.

A friend who did not want to be named said Burns' world “fell apart” after her conviction and that she was a target for trolls, according to the Telegraph.

Simone Burns was jailed for six months after her foul-mouthed tirade
PA

Burns had been served three bottles of red wine on the Air India flight but declared "I'm a f****** international lawyer" when she was denied more.

She also called staff "Indian money-grabbing c***s" and smoked a cigarette in the toilets during the tirade which was condemned by a member of the cabin staff as unlike anything he had seen during his 30-year aviation career.

The incident, which happened on a nine hour flight from Mumbai to London last November, was filmed and shared online.

Sussex Police confirmed a body of a woman found at Beachy Head was identified as Burns.

A spokesman for the force told the Telegraph: “The body of a woman found at Beachy Head on June 1 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.”

For confidential support on mental health, call Samaritans on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org.

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