An easyJet flight from Tenerife to Liverpool was forced to return to Tenerife South Airport after a mass brawl involving about a dozen passengers broke out 30 minutes into the flight. The incident occurred on July 22, when flight EZY3352 departed Tenerife South Airport but turned around after the fight erupted.
Details of the incident
Flight radar images showed the Airbus A320-214 looping around at 1,425ft and returning to the Canary Island. The flight was due to land at Liverpool John Lennon Airport at 4.06am.
Spanish air traffic control stated: "The crew of the Tenerife South to Liverpool flight, after about 30 minutes of flight, informs us that they need to return to the airport and requests a police presence upon arrival. A group of about a dozen passengers have started a fight on board, and the captain has decided to return due to the danger it poses to the integrity of the flight. We expedite their return as much as possible while coordinating with the airport for the police presence. They land and clear runway 07 without incident. All our support to crews and passengers who increasingly often endure these situations."
Police response and airline statement
The landing plane was met by police officers at the airport. An easyJet spokesman said: "Flight EZY3352 from Tenerife to Liverpool yesterday returned to the airport and was met by police due to a group of passengers behaving disruptively. The flight then continued to Liverpool. Our cabin and ground crew are trained to assess all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time. We take these incidents very seriously and do not tolerate disruptive behaviour towards our staff. The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is always our highest priority."
Previous disruptive incidents
Several other incidents on flights to Liverpool this year have resulted in diversions. Fintan Wyatt demanded to see the captain on an easyJet flight from Sharm El-Sheikh to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on January 6, 2026, and was said to have been drunk and disruptive. Catherine Bellis was repeatedly warned to stop drinking duty free alcohol during a Ryanair flight from Tenerife to Liverpool before she assaulted her boyfriend and a crew member. Last month, a man died after collapsing on a Jet2 flight to Manchester Airport. Callum Kerr, from Warrington, had boarded the Jet2 plane from Larnaca in Cyprus with his girlfriend on June 21. Passengers reported a man in his 30s became disruptive during the flight after allegedly drinking heavily before take-off. Police said they were called to an alleged assault on the flight after the man had reportedly become aggressive. Officers boarded the plane after it landed at Manchester Airport and found fellow passengers had restrained Callum, but he was not breathing.
