Jet2 bans two passengers for life after ‘appalling behaviour’ on flight causes diversion
Two Jet2 passengers have been banned from the airline for life following a mid-air brawl on a Manchester-bound flight. The incident occurred on Flight LS896, which was en route from Antalya, Turkey, to Manchester. The flight was forced to divert to Brussels on Thursday evening due to the disruptive behaviour of two passengers.
Footage shared on social media shows the two men shouting and fighting in the aisle as fellow travellers attempt to separate them. The flight departed from Terminal 2 at Antalya airport at around 6.11 pm local time and landed in Brussels three hours and 40 minutes into the almost five-hour flight. Police arrested the passengers in the Belgian capital before the Boeing 737-800 aircraft could continue its onward journey to the UK.
The airline confirmed that the passengers will be banned from flying with Jet2 for life and stated that they will "vigorously pursue them" to recover the diversion costs. A Jet2 spokesperson expressed their disappointment, saying, "As a family-friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour, and we are very sorry that other customers and our colleagues onboard had to experience this too."
The Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor's office is investigating the disruptive passengers for intentional assault and battery, according to BBC News. This incident is not an isolated case of passenger disruption causing flight diversions. In January, an American Airlines flight to Ecuador was forced to return to the US after the crew declared an in-flight emergency.
Flight AA2259 from Miami to Quito, Ecuador, issued a squawk 7700 alert, the signal for a general emergency, on 31 January. American Airlines attributed the diversion to a "disruptive customer" in the cabin. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 made a U-turn over Cuba to return to its departure airport mid-way through a four-hour journey to the Ecuadorian capital.
This highlights the growing issue of passenger misconduct on flights, which can lead to significant disruptions and potential safety risks. It is crucial for airlines to maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards such behaviour to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers.
