Blue star Lee Ryan apologises for his ‘inappropriate’ behaviour after being arrested on BA flight

Lee Ryan has apologised for his ‘inappropriate’ behaviour, which led to him being removed from a British Airways flight by armed police last week.

The Blue singer, 39, allegedly became abusive to cabin crew when they refused to serve him alcohol, and was arrested at London City Airport on suspicion of public order offences, before being released 12 hours later pending further investigation.

Writing on the band’s Instagram account on Friday, he revealed he will be ‘seeking professional help’ for his mental health and will ‘take ownership of the root cause of these problems’, which will see him reduce his schedule.

The pop star wrote: ‘A Note From Lee. Over the last few days, I have had a lot of time to think about my behaviour and how it affects people around me.

‘As it has been well documented I have always had my struggles with alcohol and often say or do silly things as a result of that, which in turn has caused problems for myself and those around me.

‘For that I want to apologise to everyone I have upset or offended.

‘Last week, I acted inappropriately on a flight to London and I want to say sorry to the airline staff, everyone on the flight, as well as my band mates, my family and our fans.

‘The time has come for me to take ownership of the root cause of these problems and for that reason I am reducing my schedule for the time being to seek professional help and spend time with my family.

‘I am aware of how my behaviour affects others and by starting this journey of working on my mental health I hope to emerge a better person for it.

‘Thank you to everyone that has sent me messages of support and I am sorry to everyone I have let down. Lee X.’

Lee was arrested by police at London City Airport on suspicion of public order offences, before being released 12 hours later pending further investigation.

An image obtained by MailOnline showed him having a refreshment in the airport departure lounge 90 minutes before boarding the flight – it is not known if the drink was alcoholic. Ryan’s reps declined to comment.

Passengers claimed the ex-Celebrity Big Brother contestant engaged in ‘crazy behaviour’ during the flight from Glasgow, including walking up and down the aisle and ‘running behind the cabin crew curtain.’ 

Ryan has been open about his struggles with alcohol in the past, having previously described himself as being a ‘good alcoholic’ for 10 years. 

In footage shared online, which has since been deleted, police can be seen boarding the plane after it arrived to the capital, with one officer asking Ryan to leave with them. 

The singer asks why he is being ordered to disembark before a female officer tells him they will ‘discuss it later.’ 

A few seconds later Ryan stands up, collects his belongings, and exits the aircraft. He was later pictured speaking with armed police outside the aircraft.

A source told The Sun: ‘It was quite shocking. He’d been irate on the flight and was being abusive and swearing. 

‘He was just being generally abusive to people. Everyone just thought he was being a fool. 

‘He kept asking for more alcohol but they would not serve him. He got up off his seat and he just looked like a fool.’

Further photos showed the star being taken off the plane before being spoken to by armed police, and having a refreshment in the departure lounge before the ill-fated flight. 

A further source told MailOnline: ‘As soon as the seatbelt sign went off I turned round to see him coming down the aisle with his sunglasses on. 

‘Then he made his way to the rear of the aircraft. There was then quite a lot of interaction between the crew via the inter-phone. The captain then made an announcement and said: “this is a lawful order for all passengers to remain seated with their seatbelt on”.

‘The cabin service manager had started serving us with our drinks but abruptly stopped (which was totally understandable) and made her way to the rear of the aircraft. 

‘The captain made an announcement for everyone to remain seated and the armed police came on board. He kept saying “what have I done?” As he was escorted off rather sheepishly.’

A representative for the former popstar declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. 

During the flight staff are believed to have radioed ahead to the authorities on the ground, prompting a police van to meet Ryan on the runway. 

After being removed from the flight, it is believed that Ryan was handcuffed and arrested on suspicion of public order offences, spending the night in a cell.

Ryan has since been released from custody after 12 hours, pending further investigation. 

A passenger, who claimed the incident delayed the flight by 20 minutes, told The Sun: ‘He became aggressive with the air hostesses once it became clear he wouldn’t get given alcohol. 

‘At one point he left his seat and started walking up and down the aisle despite being told to sit down — he even ran behind the cabin crew curtains. It was crazy behaviour.’

Another said: ‘The way he acted was really intimidating.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman told MailOnline on Sunday: ‘At around 1640hrs on Sunday, 31 July, officers met a flight that had arrived at London City Airport from Glasgow.

‘A 39-year-old man was arrested for a public order offence. He was taken into custody at an East London police station and was released under investigation the following day.’

Ryan has previously spoken of his struggles with alcohol, after describing himself as having been a ‘good alcoholic’ for 10 years. 

The former pop star, who has appeared on Celebs Go Dating, told in 2019 how he still drinks socially but not ‘inwardly’. 

Back in April it was revealed his company had gone bust with debts totalling £69,000.

Lee Bee Ltd was placed into voluntary liquidation due to owing the huge amount, including an estimated £15,000 to HMRC and £50,000 to Metro Bank.

The firm, which was set up in 2019, had no money to pay out to its creditors and began to be wound up by liquidator Stuart Rathmell on March 17.  

The debts also include £4,000 owed to the Blue singer, 38, who is the sole director.

A representative for Lee was contacted by MailOnline for comment at the time. 

According to records, his only other active company Catch A Dream Productions Ltd filed accounts on March 23, which revealed debts of £2,175. 

Ryan relocated to Spain in 2020 with his girlfriend Verity Paris after seeing work dry up at home.

In March it was revealed that he had secretly married his girlfriend of two years. 

The couple, who welcomed a daughter – whose name they haven’t publicly shared – in August last year, tied the knot in an intimate ceremony. 

Ryan moved to Spain last year to start a family with Verity, 31, and the couple said I Do at a registry office in Gibraltar.   

The newlywed told The Sun: ‘I met someone finally who loves and supports me in everything I do.

‘Verity is a beautiful, strong and loving woman who I treasure, and I’m a lucky man to have such a wonderful mother for my child, and now wife in her.  

‘I’ve never been more calm and grounded and I have Verity to thank for that. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life because of the wonderful family life I now have.’ 

As well as his daughter with Verity, Ryan is also dad to daughter Bluebell, 13, who he shares with ex Jessica Keevil, and son Rayn, 12, whose mother is his ex-fiancée, Samantha Miller. 

The couple moved to a beachfront apartment in the Costa del Sol in 2020 with the duo admitting that they now have a ‘better quality of life’ and ‘new lease of life’.

Ryan admitted that after 20 years of living in London he now loves scenic walks along the coastline and ‘sea air.’