Dozens of furious passengers who were held up by border control at a French airport stormed a runway to stop their plane from taking off without them. The incident unfolded on Saturday evening at Marseille-Provence Airport when significant delays at border control prevented over 80 passengers from reaching their gate in time to catch their flight to Marrakesh.
Ryanair Flight Delayed by Over Three Hours
Ryanair flight FR2640, which was due to depart at 10:30pm, eventually took off more than three hours later, leaving several registered passengers waiting to get to their gate. Passengers grew agitated, and the situation reached a breaking point when a group of travellers attempted to storm the runway to stop their flight from leaving.
Dramatic Footage Captures Runway Incident
Dramatic footage shows the moment passengers made their way onto the runway, with travellers seen standing on the tarmac and shouting at airport staff as they attempted to block the plane from taking off. A stunned pilot is shown sticking his head out of the cockpit's window, as one of the passengers stranded outside told him: 'It's not good, it's not good.' Separate footage shows a woman shouting and flailing her arms in frustration on the runway as other passengers stand impatiently in front of the aircraft.
Woman Arrested for Allegedly Disabling Fire Safety Systems
A woman has since been arrested on suspicion of causing fire safety systems to shut down to facilitate access to the runway, French broadcaster BFM reports. The Ryanair jet eventually left Marseille at around 1.50am, leaving several stranded. According to airport officials, the airline was bound by operational requirements that dictate aircraft must be positioned in specific countries overnight or have crew members available at specific locations the next morning.
Airport Launches Inquiry
Marseille-Provence Airport's operators have confirmed an inquiry into the incident was being conducted. Airport officials also called the event an 'exceptionally rare situation.' The Daily Mail has approached Ryanair for comment.
Broader Context: New Border Control System Causes Delays
It comes as millions of Brits setting off on trips to Europe this Spring and Summer were warned to expect lengthy queues at border control at 10 major airports as the new digital system for non-EU travellers comes into force. The introduction of the Entry-Exit System (EES), which began rolling out on 10 April, means many UK passengers will now need to register biometric details, such as fingerprints and facial recognition images, when entering the Schengen Area. The added checks are expected to slow processing times at some of the busiest airports in Europe, just as travel demand picks up. Airports expected to be affected by delays include Copenhagen Airport, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and Malaga Airport.
Previous Incident: Drunk Passenger Causes Chaos on Ryanair Flight
The incident on Saturday also comes as a Ryanair flight carrying Britons to Ibiza from Madrid was forced to reverse on the runway after a drunk passenger caused 'chaos' onboard. The evening flight on February 12 was delayed by more than an hour after a young man refused to listen to the instructions of the cabin crew. Shocking footage taken on the plane showed the apparently drunk man shouting at fellow passengers. Several members of the cabin crew were seen trying to calm him down, while someone who appeared to be another passenger also intervened. But the drunk man could be heard hitting different parts of the cabin as his anger grew. A passenger said: 'We were boarding and already saw the young man making a scene, talking loudly on the phone, shouting, and everyone was watching him.' Despite being explicitly told to turn off his phone, he continued to be belligerent and use his mobile device. The passenger said: 'He kept using his phone, and then they reprimanded him. The plane had to stop, attendants approached him, he took off his seatbelt, until a fellow passenger told him enough was enough.'
