NewsEmergency landing in Athens after unruly passengers cause chaos

Emergency landing in Athens after unruly passengers cause chaos

Incident on board easyJet plane. Video posted online
Incident on board easyJet plane. Video posted online
Images source: © TikTok

4 October 2024 16:03

An easyJet flight from Antalya, Turkey, to London, was forced to make an emergency landing in Athens because of two passengers' aggressive behaviour. The incident, which led to significant disruption on board, culminated in police intervention. A recording from the plane has been shared online.

The easyJet flight from Antalya to London made an unscheduled landing in Athens due to aggressive conduct by two men. One shirtless passenger started a quarrel with other travellers.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, the situation escalated when passengers began exchanging insults, and the cabin crew attempted to de-escalate the altercation.

Passengers recorded the incident, and the video was posted on TikTok. It shows a shirtless man moving along the aisle and confronting other passengers on the plane.

Another passenger, wearing a white jacket, exacerbated the situation. Eventually, the flight attendants managed to subdue the aggressor and guide him to the back of the plane.

Drunken passengers on board. Pilot forced to change course

Due to the ensuing chaos, the plane had to be rerouted to Athens airport. Police were waiting on-site and detained both passengers involved in the disturbance.

Internet users quickly shared their thoughts. Some suggested that airlines impose significant fines on disruptive passengers or even introduce lifetime bans for such behaviour.

Flight dispute. Airlines respond

An easyJet spokesperson confirmed that the flight from Antalya to Gatwick on October 1st was diverted to Athens because of "two passengers behaving inappropriately."

The airline also issued a statement emphasizing that the safety of passengers and crew is its "absolute priority" and that such incidents are taken very seriously.

While rare, similar situations often attract considerable attention and highlight the issue of alcohol abuse during flights. This has led to increasing calls for stricter regulations.