Ryanair flight forced turn around after early morning 'drunken mid-air fight'

18 September 2023 , 18:25

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Ryanair flight forced turn around after early morning 'drunken mid-air fight'

A plane had to be turned around mid-flight and a man was arrested following an alleged 'drunk' and 'violent' incident early today.

The Ryanair flight departed Manchester Airport en route to Faro, Portugal on Monday morning. However, it was rerouted back to Manchester after the onboard crew requested police assistance. An eyewitness claimed that a passenger became 'very violent' and started a 'fight' while the plane was in the air. A 15-second video clip was shared after the aircraft had landed showing two policemen boarding the flight.

In it, the officers are seen walking down the aisle of the packed plane as passengers begin to cheer. The person filming says, "here's for naughty boy," before one of the police asks people to put their cameras away.

Two police officers on board the Ryanair flight that returned back to Manchester (Liverpool Echo)

The eyewitness, who spoke to Liverpool Echo, also described that a passenger was allegedly "slapped hard across the face" by a woman travelling with him because of his alleged behaviour towards another female passenger.

A spokesperson for Ryanair told the Mirror: "The crew of this flight from Manchester to Faro (18 Sep) requested police assistance after a passenger became disruptive on board. This flight turned back to Manchester and this passenger was removed from the aircraft by local police before the flight continued safely to Faro following a short delay.

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A man in is 30s was arrested in connection with the incident (Liverpool Echo)

"This is now a matter for local police. We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused as a result of this passenger’s disruptive behaviour.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed with Liverpool Echo that a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of both being drunk on an aircraft and causing common assault. They said: "At around 6.25am this morning, Monday, September 18 officers were called to reports of a disruptive passenger on a flight bound for Faro.

"Upon the plane returning to Manchester Airport, a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk on an aircraft, two counts of common assault and a Section 4a public order and remains in police custody for questioning. "

The Mirror contacted GMP for further comment.

Patrick Edrich