A Ryanair flight from Tenerife to Scotland was forced to divert to Portugal after a disruptive passenger allegedly assaulted others onboard and made a bomb threat, prompting a dramatic police intervention.
The flight, which was en route to Glasgow Prestwick on Saturday 18th May, made an unscheduled landing in Faro, Portugal, after a woman reportedly became aggressive towards passengers and cabin crew.
Footage shared online shows the woman being forcibly removed from the aircraft by several members of staff, and a second video, filmed on the airport tarmac, appears to show the same woman, now handcuffed and inside a shuttle bus, being thrown to the ground by a security officer following a confrontation.
Witnesses Describe ‘Terrifying’ Incident
Passenger Blair Morgan, speaking to the MailOnline, described the atmosphere onboard as “distressed and scared” after the woman allegedly made violent threats and acted erratically throughout the flight.
“She was drunk, vaping in the aisle, standing on seats, and threatening to 'bottle' people with a wine bottle,” he said. “She even made a bomb threat and assaulted other passengers.”
Morgan said the passenger had been loud but not visibly intoxicated at the departure gate. Her behaviour reportedly escalated after take-off.
Following the mid-air incident, the flight crew contacted authorities in Portugal, and the aircraft was diverted to Faro Airport, where Local Police boarded the plane.
Violent Struggle on Airport Tarmac
Once removed from the aircraft, the woman was taken to a bus on the tarmac. Footage appears to show her lashing out at officers, with one security guard seen swinging at her before she is pulled to the ground.
The incident has raised concerns about the level of force used by the authorities during the arrest. Morgan added that the woman’s boyfriend, who was travelling with her, was also removed from the flight.
Ryanair Responds
In a statement to the MailOnline, Ryanair confirmed the diversion, saying:
"This flight from Tenerife South to Glasgow Prestwick diverted to Faro after a passenger became disruptive onboard. Crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon landing at Faro Airport and offloaded this passenger before the flight continued to Prestwick."
The airline reiterated its strict zero-tolerance policy on unruly behaviour, adding that it is committed to ensuring the safety of both passengers and crew.
