Spanish police stormed an easyJet flight travelling from Manchester to the Canary Islands Friday due to ‘violent passengers’ on board.
Easyjet flight EZY34TV left Manchester just after 7am on Friday and was due to land at 12.35pm in Tenerife, according to flight tracker FlightRadar24.
Yet holidaymakers found themselves experiencing hours-long delays as the flight was diverted to Lanzorate, 100 miles east of the island.
Spanish air traffic controllers said national police had been called to meet the plane because of the ‘possibility of assaults’.
‘The crew of a flight from Manchester to Tenerife South has informed us of the presence of eight violent passengers on board,’ Controladores Aéreos posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
‘Given the possibility of attacks, they have requested a detour to Lanzarote.’
â ï¸ La tripulación del vuelo procedente de Manchester con destino #Tenerife Sur nos comunica la presencia de 8 pasajeros violentos a bordo. Ante la posibilidad de agresiones requieren desviarse al aeropuerto de #Lanzarote.
— ðControladores Aéreos ðªð¸ (@controladores) September 29, 2023
Les instruimos a ruta directa y recorte de aproximación en⦠pic.twitter.com/6mu8PC2fdh
Air traffic controllers helped the pilot reach his unscheduled destination.
‘A police presence on arrival was coordinated. We reiterate our support for aircrews and passengers who have to endure these situations,’ the statement added.
Four ‘drunk’ men have been reported to the Spanish Air Safety and Security Agency (AESA), a civil aviation authority which can fine the riders, La Provincia reported.
Citing sources from the national police, the men are believed to have nearly caused a fight mid-flight prompting the panicked crew to contact air traffic control in the Canary Islands to advise.
After the plane reached Lanzarote at 1.25pm, the men cooperated with police.
The men, pilot, cabin crew and passengers gave statements to officers, with police complaints sent to aviation safety officials.
If officials fine the passengers, they could face paying up to £40,000 as well as face further fines from the airline.
The plane was back in the air more than an hour later before landing finally arriving in Tenerife at 2.20pm, FlightRadar24 said.
Easyjey has been approached for comment.
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