An easyJet flight destined for Liverpool was forced to return to Tenerife after a large-scale brawl broke out on board. Spanish air traffic controllers reported that around 10 passengers were involved in the melee on flight EZY3352.
Crew Requested Police Presence
The crew informed controllers about 30 minutes into the flight that they needed to return to the airport and requested a police presence upon arrival. The captain decided to turn back due to the danger posed to flight safety. Controllers expedited the return and coordinated with the airport for police.
The plane landed and vacated runway 07 without incident. Controllers expressed support for crews and passengers enduring such situations more frequently.
Flight Details and Aftermath
Flight trackers indicate the plane departed Tenerife South Airport just before 8pm local time yesterday and returned at 9:05pm. It was not immediately clear whether all involved passengers were British or if any arrests were made.
An easyJet spokesperson confirmed that the flight returned and was met by police due to a group of passengers behaving disruptively. The flight later continued to its final destination. The spokesperson stated that cabin and ground crew are trained to assess situations and act quickly to ensure safety, and that the company takes such incidents seriously and does not tolerate disruptive behavior.
One British passenger on social media claimed, "My daughter is on this flight. A family with kids got escorted off the plane. No fighting at all," contradicting the official accounts.
