Manchester Airport Flights Disrupted: Jet2 Bans Passengers for Life After Mid-Air Brawl
A holiday flight heading to Manchester Airport experienced significant disruption after a violent altercation between two passengers. Jet2 has issued a lifetime ban to both individuals involved in the mid-air brawl that occurred on flight LS896 from Antalya, Turkey.
Emergency Landing in Brussels
The incident forced the flight to make an emergency landing in Brussels due to the “appalling behaviour” of the disruptive passengers. Footage circulating on social media depicts the two men shouting and physically fighting in the aisle, while fellow passengers and cabin crew attempted to intervene. The disruption caused significant distress to other travelers and crew members.
Arrest and Investigation
Upon landing in Brussels, Belgian police promptly arrested the two men. The flight eventually resumed its journey to Manchester Airport, arriving just after 22:00 GMT on February 12th. An investigation into intentional assault and battery is currently underway by Belgian authorities.
Jet2’s Zero-Tolerance Policy
Jet2 has reaffirmed its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding disruptive passenger behaviour. A spokesperson for the airline stated, “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 airline also announced it will “vigorously” pursue the costs associated with the flight diversion and disruption from the individuals involved.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Despite the severity of the incident, Belgian authorities allowed the men to continue their journey after a period of administrative detention, citing they were “still drunk.” Their identities, photos, and fingerprints were recorded, and an official report detailing the alleged assault and battery has been filed with the Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor’s office confirmed the investigation is ongoing and appropriate legal action will be taken.
Related Travel News & Updates
While this incident highlights issues with passenger conduct, other factors can impact Manchester Airport flights. Recent reports indicate potential travel disruptions due to a labour dispute, prompting authorities to implement contingency measures. BBC News provides ongoing coverage of travel disruptions.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding potential impacts on TSA workers due to a possible lack of pay during the dispute. The CEO of a major airline also recently commented on cultural differences in pedestrian traffic potentially leading to collisions between British and European travelers.
Source: BBC News
