Passenger Tried to Open Plane Doors in Drunken Mid-Air Fight

A Disturbing Incident on a Ryanair Flight

A Ryanair flight from Bournemouth to Girona, Spain, was diverted to Toulouse airport after a passenger allegedly attempted to open the emergency doors while the plane was in mid-air. The incident occurred on Thursday and led to a chaotic situation onboard that left many passengers shaken.

According to witnesses, the conflict began when a man, who was reportedly intoxicated, shouted, “I want to go” and made his way toward the emergency exit. Passengers tried to physically stop him as he allegedly spat at and punched others. He was eventually subdued with a seatbelt tied around his ankles.

Video footage captured the man, wearing a white T-shirt and orange shorts, being carried across the runway by 13 French police officers. The event was described as traumatic by those on board, with some passengers experiencing panic attacks during the ordeal.

The flight eventually continued its journey to Girona, arriving about two hours later than scheduled. One witness shared their experience, saying, “The whole event was very traumatic. The man had gone into the toilet and then afterwards, was trying to open one of the emergency exit doors. He then went to try the other, shouting ‘I want to go’. That’s when a huge brawl started with a lot more than one man trying to get him away from the doors.”

Another passenger added, “They started brawling in the middle of the plane. It went on for about 30 minutes... it took about three people to restrain him. It was horrible, there was blood everywhere. There were people screaming and crying.”

A Military-Style Intervention

One witness described how the situation escalated further. “He tried to stand to go to the toilet while we were taking off. When asked to sit down, he shouted ‘I need a p--- mate’ but then sat down. Once in the air, he then stumbled to the front, trying to open the doors in a panic. He was totally inebriated and wanted to get off the flight. Two men tried to calm and restrain him but he started spitting and swinging for everyone, crashing into people. One big guy warned him he was going to take him down if he carried on and he did so he took him to the floor in a military style.”

Ryanair's Response

Ryanair issued a statement regarding the incident, stating, “This flight from Bournemouth to Girona (Sept 4) was diverted to Toulouse after a passenger became disruptive onboard. Crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon landing at Toulouse airport and offloaded this passenger before this flight continued to Girona. Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a respectful and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption.”

Bournemouth airport has not yet commented on the incident. The event highlights the challenges airlines face in managing unruly passengers and maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for all travelers.