A Jet2 flight from Edinburgh Airport to Cyprus was forced to turn back to the capital after a 'disruptive passenger' on board. Flight LS721 to Larnaca returned to Scotland around 30 minutes after departing as a result of the incident.
Emergency services meet flight on landing
Emergency services met the flight after it landed safely back in Edinburgh. The passenger was then removed from the aircraft upon landing by a number of police officers.
Police Scotland confirmed a 32-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with various offences including assault and endangering an aircraft.
Eyewitness describes disruption
One eyewitness told the Record: "We were only in the air about half an hour when the guy kicked off... Stewardesses were also getting abuse. We finally made a very bumpy landing back in Edinburgh."
Videos taken inside the aircraft show emergency services responding to the incident after the plane was back on the ground at Edinburgh Airport. Fire crews and airport staff can be seen on the ground before several police officers make their way down the stairs carrying a person off the flight and into a van.
Flight tracking shows diversion
Data from flight tracking app FlightRadar24 shows how the Boeing 737 took off from Edinburgh before turning south on its way to Cyprus. The aircraft had barely crossed the border into English airspace before it turned around in the skies near Newcastle.
Airline and police statements
A spokesperson for Jet2.com said: "As a family-friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour, and we strongly condemn any behaviour of this nature. We will not hesitate to take appropriate action against disruptive passengers, including through the courts where necessary, and we will seek to recover the costs incurred as a result of their behaviour."
"We would like to apologise to all customers and our colleagues onboard who had to experience this."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 4.30pm on Wednesday, September 23, police received a report of a disruptive passenger on a flight that had departed from Edinburgh Airport. The flight returned to the airport and a 32-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with various offences including assault and endangering an aircraft."
"He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, September 24. Anyone with any footage which could assist our enquiries is asked to contact officers via 101, quoting incident number 2320 of Wednesday, September 23."
