EasyJet Flight Turns Back After Passengers Mistake Cabin for Fight Club
Passengers aboard an easyJet flight from Tenerife to Liverpool received some unexpected in-flight entertainment Tuesday evening when approximately 10 travelers reportedly decided that sitting quietly for a few hours was simply too much to ask.
Instead, they started a midair brawl.
Flight EZY3352 had been airborne for approximately 30 minutes when the captain concluded that an aircraft carrying 186 people was probably not the ideal venue for a 10-person battle royal.
Because commercial airliners traditionally discourage passengers from beating the hell out of one another at altitude, the captain turned the plane around and headed back to Tenerife South Airport.
Air traffic controllers said the crew requested that police be waiting when the aircraft landed. Controllers expedited the plane’s return while coordinating with authorities on the ground.
The flight landed safely and cleared Runway 07 “without incident”—apparently referring to the portion of the evening after the airborne mass fight.
Police met the aircraft as requested. No information was immediately provided about what started the brawl, whether arrests were made or whether any of the participants managed to retain their easyJet frequent-fighter status.
After the situation was addressed, the aircraft once again departed for Liverpool, giving the remaining passengers another opportunity to experience the increasingly rare luxury of simply traveling from one city to another without becoming supporting characters in somebody else’s public meltdown.
Air traffic control expressed support for airline employees and passengers who are being forced to deal with these situations with increasing frequency.
“Our full support goes out to the crews and passengers who are increasingly having to endure these situations,” the agency said in a statement translated from Spanish.
EasyJet confirmed that the flight returned because a group of passengers was “behaving disruptively,” which is polite corporate language for approximately 10 adults apparently attempting to hold an unauthorized fighting tournament inside a pressurized aluminum tube.
The airline emphasized that its cabin and ground crews are trained to assess dangerous situations and respond quickly to protect passengers and employees.
“We take these incidents very seriously and do not tolerate disruptive behaviour towards our staff,” easyJet said, adding that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain its highest priority.
EasyJet did not announce whether future safety demonstrations will be expanded to include instructions such as keeping seatbelts fastened, locating the nearest emergency exit and refraining from punching Trevor from Row 19 while flying several thousand feet above the Atlantic.
The flight ultimately continued to Liverpool, presumably with fewer punches, considerably more police involvement and at least 176 passengers wondering why grown adults can no longer manage an airplane ride without turning it into an episode of professional wrestling.
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