British passengers were left stranded for 17 hours after their flight was diverted because a couple was caught smoking onboard.
Those flying from Cancún International Airport in Mexico to London Gatwick Airport said stranded holidaymakers were strewn across airbeds in what was described as a “war zone”.
Around an hour into the 5,000-mile journey on July 8, the captain of the UK-bound Tui jet announced that two passengers were found smoking in the toilets
The cabin crew warned that if the pair continued to smoke, he would have to make an emergency landing.
After another three-and-a-half hours, near the United States-Canada border, the pilot diverted the jet at around 9.30pm local time to Bangor International Airport in Maine, where the pair were removed.
However, the rest of the travellers remained on the plane for five more hours, according to The Sun.
Due to working hour limits, the service was eventually cancelled and customers were forced to sleep on airbeds in a military base lounge overnight.
In order to organise another journey back from North America, an entire new crew had to be flown out all the way from the UK.
Mercifully, the rescue flight took off at 3pm local time on Wednesday July 9, with all passengers now safely home.
It was like a warzone in a lounge
Terry Lawrance, 66, who was on the aborted flight, said: "Everybody was fed up. In fairness, they started bringing out airbeds, but it was like free-for-all for vultures.
"It was like a warzone in a lounge, rows and rows of beds. All our luggage was still on the plane whilst we waited.”
He added: "Once we landed, they removed the two passengers. They were obviously drunk, and he basically assaulted his partner.
"The captain then said we'd be getting going again once the paperwork has been done.”
The Standard has contacted Tui for comment.
