A family's first-ever Ryanair flight turned into a holiday nightmare after a delay, emergency landing, and medical emergency left them arriving six hours late. Viltė Jasmontė, 35, her husband Aidas Jasmontas, and their six-year-old daughter Ariele were travelling from Bristol to Gran Canaria for a May half-term getaway when the drama unfolded.
Initial Delays and Dirty Cabin
The flight was initially delayed by more than two hours because of technical issues with the aircraft. When passengers finally boarded a replacement plane, Viltė claimed the cabin was dirty with little food or water available for the four-hour journey. The cabin crew informed passengers that there was almost no food or water on board, only Pringles, chocolate bars, and canned soft drinks for sale.
Drunk Passengers Cause Disruption
Viltė also claimed several passengers who appeared to be drunk were allowed on board, causing disruption before and during the flight. The situation created a tense atmosphere among travellers.
Medical Emergency Forces Diversion
About 90 minutes after take-off, passengers began shouting that a woman had collapsed and urgently needed medical help. Viltė and her family were sitting just three rows away from the affected passenger. Many people stood up from their seats, shouting and looking around, creating a very chaotic atmosphere. Cabin crew repeatedly asked whether there was a doctor on board, while some crew members appeared visibly shaken.
A female passenger had reportedly lost consciousness and suffered convulsions before being assisted by another traveller until she regained consciousness. The captain then announced the aircraft would make an emergency landing in Lisbon, Portugal.
Emergency Landing and Long Wait
After touching down in Lisbon, two airport paramedics boarded the plane to treat the woman. Passengers remained on board for nearly two hours waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Eventually, the woman was taken to hospital alongside her daughter and granddaughter. Once the aircraft had been inspected and cleared, the flight resumed its journey to Gran Canaria.
Family Arrives Six Hours Late
The family finally landed at around 1am, about six hours later than scheduled. They did not arrive at their hotel until around 3am. Viltė said: 'What was meant to be the start of a relaxing family holiday turned into a stressful and frightening experience, especially for our young daughter, who was terrified by everything that happened around her.' Despite the chaotic start, the family said they were able to enjoy the rest of their holiday after arriving on the island. Ryanair has been contacted for comment.
