Flight U28235: An unexpected detour
The trouble began soon after Flight U28235 took off from London Gatwick Airport around 3:30 pm (local time) on Tuesday.As the aircraft soared at over 30,000 feet, the passenger — who had clearly overindulged in whiskey — decided to spice up the flight with his own brand of turbulence. According to reports from The Sun, this unruly flyer not only tried to storm the cockpit but also berated the captain, calling him ‘rubbish’ and threatening to take over the controls.
Cockpit storming and exit door drama
The inebriated passenger attempted to open an exit door, leading to a physical clash with flight attendants and other passengers. The crew managed to subdue him, but not before the passenger inflicted damage on the intercom system and further antagonized the flight crew.
Viral video and passenger reactions
The incident quickly went viral, with a video capturing the dramatic aftermath. In the footage shared on X, passengers can be seen erupting into cheers, some even shouting, “Get off, you loser,” as German police escorted the troublesome traveler off the plane. Another passenger received applause for reportedly holding the man down until “Captain Mike landed us safely.” Amidst the chaos, some passengers found solace in taunting the disruptive flyer by chanting lyrics from KRS-One’s “Sound of da Police.”
EasyJet’s response
EasyJet released a statement addressing the disruption, emphasizing that the emergency landing was necessary due to the “passenger behaving disruptively.” The airline reassured that passenger safety is a top priority and that its crew is well-trained to handle such situations. The affected passengers were provided with hotel and meal accommodations in Munich and continued their journey to Greece the following day.
“We regret the inconvenience this incident caused, though it was beyond our control,” the airline added.
The call for change
In the wake of the incident, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary’s call for a two-drink limit on alcoholic beverages for passengers has gained renewed attention. O’Leary’s proposal, aimed at reducing disruptive behavior on flights, might be worth considering after this in-flight fiasco.