A flight from Mexico to London was forced to make an unscheduled stop in the United States after two passengers engaged in a physical altercation mid-air. The TUI Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 267 passengers, was en route from Cancun to Gatwick on Tuesday when the fight broke out, prompting the pilot to divert the aircraft to Bangor, Maine.
According to audio recordings of cockpit communications, the pilot reported that the cabin crew had managed to bring the situation under control. One passenger told the New York Post that the pilot had earlier warned two individuals about smoking in the toilet, and that they had refused to stop, appearing intoxicated. The altercation escalated, leading to the diversion when the plane was near the Canadian border.
Upon landing, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers removed both passengers from the aircraft. Despite the disruption, no criminal charges were filed. A CBP spokesperson confirmed that both individuals were processed for expedited removal and returned to their home countries on separate outbound flights.
The diversion left passengers stranded overnight in Bangor, as the flight crew had reached their duty limits and a relief crew had to be flown in. The flight departed again at 3pm EST on Wednesday and landed safely at Gatwick later that day. Passengers described the layover as uncomfortable, with issues regarding refuelling and rebooking.
