Latest news with #drunkpassengers
Daily Mail
01-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Brits warned your holidays 'could be ruined before you fly out' at UK's biggest airports
There's been plenty of altercations involving passengers at airports who might have had one too many to drink - leading to them getting chucked off planes, and even, in some cases, arrested. Back in May, a British woman was filmed being dragged off a Ryanair flight and thrown to the floor by security staff after she allegedly assaulted passengers and forced the plane to divert to Portugal. A holidaymaker who witnessed the incident recalled to the Daily Mail how the woman had allegedly been 'assaulting passengers whilst being drunk and vaping up and down the aisle'. In January, a video was released of Lewis Howarth, from Bolton, being hurled off a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Turkey by armed police, after a pre-takeoff drunken outburst, during which he called an air hostess a 'd***head' for asking him to fasten his seatbelt. He was sentenced to 14 weeks behind bars at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to entering an aircraft when drunk, assault on an emergency worker and common assault of an emergency worker. In another incident, an unruly unnamed woman forced a packed Wizz Air flight on the way to Hurghada, Egypt to be diverted mid-air and return to Gatwick, after she reportedly began swearing at flight crew during the journey. Elsewhere, in April, a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Rhodes descended into chaos when staff were forced to strap an 'unruly' passenger to his seat using spare belts after he refused to sit down during landing. The passenger onboard the flight was reportedly shouting at cabin crew who onlookers said had confiscated two bottles of booze from him and refused to serve him alcohol. In response to such incidents, travellers have been warned their holidays 'could be ruined' before they even jet off from the airport - in One Too Many flyers and posters seen at more than 20 UK airports, including London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester, Liverpool, and Bristol. First launched in 2018, the One Too Many campaign aims to raise awareness of the legal and personal consequences of getting too drunk on flights and at airports. With one in every 640,000 passengers disruptive, and millions set to head off on their holidays this summer, the scheme urges travellers to behave sensibly. It outlines the consequences passengers causing issues could face, from having no holiday, to facing up to two years in prison. The website reads: 'Fly responsibly or you could pay the price. 'If you are deemed unfit to fly you may be denied boarding.' The campaign warns that those being disruptive on flights may face up to two years in prison and if their behaviour delays a flight from taking off, they could be slapped with a fine of up to £5,000. It adds that messy behaviour mid-air that leads to an incident could land the passenger with a diversion fee of up to £80,000. In an even more severe scenario, travellers that cause a flight to be cancelled could be banned from flying in the future. The campaign states: 'The industry is committed to tackling disruptive behaviour through a voluntary Code of Practice. 'Signatories to the Code work together to prevent and minimise the number of disruptive passenger incidents, and promote: 'A zero-tolerance approach to disruptive behaviour, the identification, pre-emption, management and reporting of disruptive incidents, the responsible sale and consumption of alcohol; and education and communication with passengers.' The campaign has gathered support from the Government over the years. According to the Mirror, Karen Dee, the chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, said: 'UK airports are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all passengers. 'We urge travellers to enjoy their journeys responsibly and not ruin their holidays or the holidays of others. 'Airports will continue to monitor and act against any disruptive behaviour to ensure everyone's safety.' In an even more severe scenario, travellers that cause a flight to be cancelled could be banned from flying in the future (stock) According to the UK Travel Retail Forum, which led the campaign, One Too Many has made an impact since it started in 2018. Glasgow Airport has reported a 52 per cent drop in outbound alcohol-related offenders. Meanwhile, Manchester Airport has seen a 23 per cent decrease. In 2021, the Home Office praised the scheme and said it is 'invaluable in promoting awareness to passengers before getting to the airport and to the concessions where alcohol is served'.
The Sun
31-07-2025
- The Sun
Moment cops storm Jet2 flight and haul off two drunk passengers who ‘downed bottle of vodka during delay'
THIS is the shocking moment cops swarm a Jet2 flight and drag out two drunk passengers who "downed a bottle of vodka". Dramatic footage shows two "uncontrollable" men being bundled off the aircraft at Leeds Bradford Airport. 6 6 6 The video, filmed on July 24, captures a brawl breaking out at the back of the plane, with Jet2 staff and cops trying to restrain the troublemakers. As the yobs are escorted onto the runway, a swarm of officers haul them off the tarmac. Ian Boyle, who had been on the aircraft for his flight to Chania International Airport in Greece, recalled the chaotic scenes. He told YorkshireLive: "The airline staff were doing their best but the drunk guy just overwhelmed them. "The police had to intervene because the man was so drunk he was uncontrollable. "Apparently, the two friends brought a duty-free bottle of vodka on board and thought it was okay to drink it while we were delayed." The outraged passenger claimed it was a "serious" incident, and terrified children on board. Jet2 also confirmed they have banned the "disruptive passengers" from flying with the airline again. Cops reported they detained two men on suspicion of affray. Both have been released on bail. A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "On 24 July, police received a request for assistance following a report of a disturbance at Leeds Bradford Airport. "Officers attended and arrested two males on suspicion of affray. Both were later bailed pending further enquiries." A spokesperson for Jet2 confirmed: "We can confirm that two disruptive passengers have been banned from flying with us, following their appalling behaviour which led to police having to offload them. "As a family friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour." 6 6 6 This comes after a female Ryanair passenger was left sobbing on her knees after being banned from boarding her flight. The tearful woman was left hitting a door in an emotional outburst as airport staff reportedly told her that her hand luggage was too big. Chaos unfolded at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria when the woman was left screaming, sobbing and venting her frustration over Ryanair 's strict baggage policy. Elsewhere, brave passengers banded together to tackle a man shouting that he had a bomb during an easyJet flight - before claiming he wanted to "send a message" to Donald Trump. The dramatic incident on July 27 - caught on film and sent to The Sun - saw the packed jet forced into an emergency landing at Glasgow Airport. The offender was then cuffed and hauled off the aircraft by around half a dozen cops, with panicked passengers left in tears. In the video, he can be heard saying: "I wanted to send a message to Trump... he's in Scotland." And earlier this year, another flyer was arrested after allegedly smacking an air hostess i n the face. Footage shows the man being restrained on board a TUI plane from Spanish holiday hotspot Gran Canaria to Birmingham. The brute - who passengers say was drunk - was led away in handcuffs after appearing to strike a cabin crew member in an hour-long fit of rage, which left air hostesses in tears. Flight attendants even attempted to use a 'restraint kit' to subdue the holidaymaker, but were unable to bring him under control even after the plane had landed. The drunk male was forced down onto other passengers by cops who quickly surrounded and cuffed him after he resisted arrest. We previously revealed how a British woman was dragged off a flight after allegedly assaulting passengers and "making a bomb threat". And last year a "flight from hell" did a U-turn after just 36 minutes in the air, when a "mass brawl" broke out between holidaymakers. Flight compensation rules A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed? Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight. You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet. So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded. But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline. When am I not entitled to compensation? The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather. Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled? If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you. Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer. Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof. If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Daily Mail
US teenagers are arrested at Heathrow after buying illegal booze with fake ID and getting drunk on school trip to UK
Nine teenagers who used faked IDs to buy illegal booze in the USA and used it to get drunk on a Virgin jet to the UK were arrested by over a dozen police at Heathrow. The out-of-control children on a school trip aged 17 and 18 had topped up their in-flight drinks with alcohol and when the plane was cruising at 30,000 feet were sozzled. Their furious teachers and aircrew were unable to control nine children in the group of 20 and the captain radioed ahead that the flight was being endangered by drunk passengers. Virgin Flight VS008 was met at Terminal 3 at 10am on Monday by a large group of waiting police officers and 8 unruly boys and 1 girl were arrested and taken into custody. While the remaining group of teachers and pupils from a posh school in the States flew onto a summer camp in Europe their pals were finger-printed and had their mug shots taken. Then they were put into cells on at Heathrow's Polar Park police station to sleep off the booze and awoke to heavy hangovers the next day and the fury of a remaining school-teacher. Virgin refused to fly them back to LA but when it was pointed out they had an obligation to honour the return tickets came up with a 'suitable revenge' for the flight disruption. The Met Police decided not to charge the nine teenagers - ruling the loss of their holiday and return 5500 miles to their furious parents in Los Angeles would be punishment enough. But that is where Virgin stepped in and added to their shame for the return flights. A Virgin Atlantic source said: 'They did not want any repeat offending so they decided not to send them back as a group but one at a time on 9 separate flights to teach them a lesson. 'The flights to Los Angeles are packed this time of the year but three seats were found on separate flights on Wednesday and the first three were put one by one on those home. 'But the other six were not so lucky as there were no more seats back to Los Angeles. 'So 2 flew back on separate flights to San Francisco, 1 to Las Vegas, 1 to Seattle, 1 to Atlanta, and the last one to JFK which left some of them thousands of miles away from home. 'Parents were told Virgin's responsibility ended at returning them to American soil and as it was their children's fault entirely for getting drunk that where they landed was tough luck. 'The very upset mums and dads then had to fork out for fresh airline tickets to get their hungover and very sheepish kids back to LA no doubt to face a huge rollocking as well. 'We will not tolerate anyone of any age endangering our aircraft and passengers' she said. The nine had their ETA's (Electronic Travel Authorisations) cancelled which means if they want to return to the UK in the future they will have to go through a tough visa process. Their illegal ID' which allowed them to buy booze at duty free in LA where unlike the UK the legal age to drink or buy alcohol is 21 were confiscated and destroyed by police. The children were said to have been 'screaming and running around' and would not sit down as told in their seats so the captain radioed ahead for the arrest of the rabble rousers. It is understood that many of the arrested boozers were the children of well-known business people, politicians and sports stars in the USA who had to pick their shamed children up. The Virgin source said: 'These posh kids had thought they were being clever using the fake ID's to buy booze which they tipped into soft drinks but it all became clear quite soon. 'A couple of hours into the flight they had necked their alcohol and were clearly drunk and out of control on the smuggled booze and being at altitude as well it hit them hard. 'They were behaving disgracefully and ignored the pleaseof teachers and crew members to behave so the cockpit radioed ahead for their arrest as a final resort and that happened. 'Their flights home were very sobering and silent and lonely with the Virgin staff fully aware of what they had done and keeping a very good eye on them for the flight back home. 'What started as an adventure became the lesson of a lifetime. 'They were lucky they were not all charged and forced to stay in the UK until going before local magistrates who take a very dim view of passengers getting drunk on aircraft'. The two children sent to San Francisco had a further 340 mile flight home and from JFK it was 2440 miles and Las Vegas 240 miles and Seattle 950 miles and Atlanta 2010 miles. A Virgin spokesperson said:'We'd like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused following the arrival of the VS008 at London Heathrow on 14th July, due to disruptive passengers being apprehended by the authorities. 'This is now a matter for the police, and we are unable to comment any further. The safety and welfare of our people and our customers is always our top priority.' The Met Police confirmed: 'Nine individuals – aged 17 and 18 – were arrested on Monday, 14 July at Heathrow Airport after disembarking a flight from Los Angeles.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
The 20 things plane passengers hate the most from armrest hoggers to chatty strangers
FLYERS' biggest irritations include people reclining their seat, crying kids - and drunk passengers. A poll of 2,000 air travellers also found people using devices without headphones, talking too loudly, and taking ages to put their bags in the overhead lockers were other major annoyances. 2 But it is children kicking the back of their chair that was most annoying, according to 36 per cent. Sitting next to a chatty stranger, having to queue for the toilet, and double armrest hoggers also made the top 20 list. The research was commissioned by travel insurance provider Staysure, whose spokesperson said: 'Bringing so many different people all together in one enclosed space for a long period of time can be quite an intense experience, sometimes, enabling minor irritations to bubble away. 'Crying children, seat reclining, and loud fellow passengers can often be frequently encountered on a journey, with the research showing many people can end up a little annoyed on this travel leg of the trip. 'But drunken and disorderly travellers are also unwelcome, not only by fellow flyers but the airline crew as well.' The research found that 14 per cent were irked by fellow passengers getting up to remove their bags from overhead lockers when the flight hadn't officially ended. But 15 per cent admitted they were guilty of doing some of these irritations themselves, with armrest dominance key for 54 per cent. Of those wound up by things on flights, 47 per cent are frequently exasperated by such behaviours – with eight per cent claiming to feel like this every time they step aboard a flight. With 44 per cent making their irritations known through a sigh or a huff, and 19 per cent have ended up involved in a heated discussion, according to the OnePoll data. Varying approaches also emerged when it came to initial interactions with fellow passengers – with 37 per cent acknowledging the person they're sitting next to and happy to chat away if they wanted to. But 32 per cent have regretted doing so once they realise their neighbour would natter to them throughout. And 17 per cent avoid any acknowledgement and conversation during the flight – with 25 per cent even pretending to be asleep to avoid a chat. It also emerged 76 per cent would support a section on a plane specifically for parents and children to sit, with 18 per cent finding a crying child more frustrating than a disruptive adult. However, 37 per cent found a rowdy grown-up to be much more irritating, with 88 per cent believing there is a correlation between the flight destination and attitudes of passengers. And 44 per cent believe alcohol restrictions would be a wise idea on board. A spokesperson from Staysure added: 'This research has given us a look at a topic everyone seemingly has a strong opinion on. 'However, once the flight is out of the way, you feel like you can really get on and enjoy your holiday. 'As the survey has shown, there's a long list of things that might irritate us on the plane and you never know what you might encounter. 'We can't insure people against annoying passengers but it's always wise to have tailored travel insurance in place to keep yourself protected should anything more serious happen before or during your trip.' 2 TOP 20 BIGGEST FLYING IRRITATIONS 1. Children kicking the back of your chair 2. Crying or disruptive children 3. Seat reclining 4. Drunk passengers 5. Using a device without headphones on 6. People talking too loudly 7. People taking ages putting their bags in the overhead locker when first boarding 8. People standing up to get their bags out of the overhead lockers before the flight has officially ended 9. People getting louder the more alcohol they drink 10. People pulling the back of your seat to stand up 11. Sitting next to a chatty stranger 12. Children running up and down the aisle 13. Queuing for the toilet 14. People who keep getting up to put something in and out of their bag in the overhead locker 15. Passengers constantly coughing 16. The person next to you falling asleep so you can't get out to use the toilet 17. Double armrest hoggers 18. Poor quality flight food 19. People who sit in the wrong seat when first boarding 20. Snoring passengers
