A 'disruptive' passenger was marched off a Ryanair flight from Manchester Airport to Malaga by police after the plane was forced to divert to Madrid. Witnesses on board the holiday jet claimed he was drunk - and told how he 'kicked off for no reason'.
And they said a number of heroic off-duty police officers, who were on board the plane as passengers, were forced to intervene after cabin crew tannoyed for assistance mid-flight. Ryanair said the plane continued on to Malaga from Madrid, but the incident led to an 80-minute delay for passengers.
The airline apologised to all affected passengers for the delay, describing it as 'beyond our control'. Images sent to the Manchester Evening News from a passenger on board show the moment Spanish police officers boarded the cabin.
A spokesman for Ryanair said the flight's captain called ahead to 'request for Guardia Civil assistance' on arrival in Madrid and said the passenger was subsequently 'removed from the plane'. The flight was the FR3232 10am Thursday jet from Manchester Airport to Malaga.
One holidaymaker who witnessed the drama said the man was 'kicking off' with another passenger for 'no reason'. They told the M.E.N.: "It was a man who was drunk. He kicked off on another passenger for no apparent reason.
"Some off-duty Merseyside police officers on the flight by chance took him to the back of the plane - and then we got diverted. The off-duty police guys really helped the cabin crew, who did an announcement to ask for assistance."
The passenger also shared an image of Guardia Civil officers and vehicles on the tarmac at Madrid after the plane touched down. "Everyone was pretty good natured in the end, but obviously not happy about a massive delay to their journey," they added.
Ryanair initially told the Manchester Evening News two passengers were taken off the flight.
In an updated statement, Ryanair said: "This flight from Manchester to Malaga diverted to Madrid after a passenger became disruptive during the flight. Crew called ahead to request for Guardia Civil assistance on arrival in Madrid. The aircraft landed normally and this passenger was removed from the plane.
"The flight continued to Malaga following a delay of 80 mins. Ryanair apologises to affected passengers for this delay which was beyond our control."
The Manchester Evening News has contacted Guardia Civil for further comment.
