An easyJet flight from Gatwick to Antalya was forced to divert to Kosovo after a drunken woman began spitting at a fellow passenger and a man threatened to kill anyone who complained about their behaviour, in an incident that has brought calls for a blanket ban on disruptive flyers across all UK airlines a step closer.
The chaos erupted on the Airbus A320 after a woman was seen drinking directly from a bottle of vodka during the flight, according to passengers who spoke to The Sun. A man — who was not travelling with her but began flirting after the pair discovered they were both from Kent — boasted that he had been in prison and warned other passengers they would be killed if they complained. A fight broke out after the pair were asked to stop drinking and passengers were forced to step in to intervene. Children on board were left screaming throughout the ordeal.
The woman had been travelling with her partner and young children. Her boyfriend moved away with one of their distressed children as the situation deteriorated. “It was terrifying behaviour,” one passenger told The Sun. “When they were asked to stop drinking, it all kicked off. Passengers were forced to intervene and a riot ensued. Kids were screaming. It was a packed family jet but more like the Wild West.”
The aircraft diverted to Kosovo, where police boarded the plane and escorted both individuals off. The flight eventually reached Antalya approximately three hours late.
EasyJet said: “We do not tolerate disruptive behaviour. The safety of customers and crew is always our highest priority.”
The incident has added momentum to calls for a coordinated industry-wide response to air rage. The Sun reports that company sources at easyJet indicated the airline would back plans to cut disruptive behaviour, potentially including support for Jet2’s proposal for a Britain-wide blanket ban that would bar abusive passengers from flying with any UK carrier — not just the airline from which they were removed. Such a system would prevent those banned for disruptive conduct from simply booking with a rival operator.
