Rifle-wielding police board TUI flight full of holidaymakers to arrest passenger

12 March 2024 , 16:30

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The plane had just touched down after flying from Madeira when the armed cops boarded (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Passengers were left horrified as a team of rifle-wielding police officers boarded a holiday flight and arrested a suspect moments after it landed.

The incident happened after TUI flight TOM2103 touched down at Manchester Airport around 6pm last night after jetting back from Madeira. Within minutes of the wheels touching the tarmac at Terminal 2 following the three hour and 40 minutes flight, armed cops had boarded the Boeing 737.

They then hauled a male passenger off the jet, who was arrested in relation to a warrant for an offence in Derbyshire, Greater Manchester Police has confirmed. There was no criminal incident reported during the flight itself.

Another passenger on board the flight, which departed Funchal Airport on the Atlantic island of Madeira just after 2pm, said passengers were surprised when they learned there would be a delay before they would be allowed to disembark, reports the Manchester Evening News.

They said: "A British male was then seen to be arrested by three police officers from Greater Manchester Police, handcuffed and led away to awaiting police vehicles outside terminal two."

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He said the arrested man was aged in his mid 20s and appeared to be with a group of other men.

"Normally Madeira attracts more middle aged and older travellers due to its laid back setting and lack of beaches or any kind of raucous nightlife/party scene," they added.

TUI has been approached for comment.

John Scheerhout