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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Four passengers arrested after easyJet flight due to incident onboard | Four passengers arrested after easyJet flight due to incident onboard |
| (4 months later) | |
| Plane diverted and three men and a woman detained on suspicion of offences linked to being drunk onboard an aircraft | |
| Steven Morris and agencies | |
| Fri 22 Sep 2017 14.24 BST | |
| Last modified on Fri 22 Sep 2017 16.29 BST | |
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| Three men and a woman have been arrested after a flight to the UK from Barcelona was diverted following allegations of drunken and disruptive behaviour. | Three men and a woman have been arrested after a flight to the UK from Barcelona was diverted following allegations of drunken and disruptive behaviour. |
| The flight to Liverpool landed instead at Bristol and was met by police, who arrested two 29-year-old men, a 26-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man. | The flight to Liverpool landed instead at Bristol and was met by police, who arrested two 29-year-old men, a 26-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man. |
| Police have asked for other passengers who were on the flight on Thursday night to hand over any footage of the incident. | Police have asked for other passengers who were on the flight on Thursday night to hand over any footage of the incident. |
| A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: “We’re appealing for anyone who was on easyJet flight EZY7208 from Barcelona to Liverpool, who may have filmed the incident on their mobile phones or any other devices, to get in touch.” | A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: “We’re appealing for anyone who was on easyJet flight EZY7208 from Barcelona to Liverpool, who may have filmed the incident on their mobile phones or any other devices, to get in touch.” |
| The force said the four had been arrested for offences linked to being drunk onboard an aircraft. | The force said the four had been arrested for offences linked to being drunk onboard an aircraft. |
| The airline said: “EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY7208 from Barcelona to Liverpool on 21 September diverted to Bristol to four passengers behaving disruptively. The aircraft was met by the police upon arrival in Bristol and continued to Liverpool once the passengers were arrested. | The airline said: “EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY7208 from Barcelona to Liverpool on 21 September diverted to Bristol to four passengers behaving disruptively. The aircraft was met by the police upon arrival in Bristol and continued to Liverpool once the passengers were arrested. |
| “Cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. | “Cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. |
| “Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously, do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard and always push for prosecution. The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always easyJet’s priority.” | “Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously, do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard and always push for prosecution. The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always easyJet’s priority.” |
| The flight, due to take an hour and a half, departed on time at 10.40pm. The plane was nearing its destination when the pilot felt there was no choice but to divert and land in Bristol. | The flight, due to take an hour and a half, departed on time at 10.40pm. The plane was nearing its destination when the pilot felt there was no choice but to divert and land in Bristol. |
| Initially the airline described the incident as a “passenger welfare issue”. Its operations control centre said: “We’re sorry that your flight has diverted to Bristol airport. This is due to a passenger welfare issue.” | Initially the airline described the incident as a “passenger welfare issue”. Its operations control centre said: “We’re sorry that your flight has diverted to Bristol airport. This is due to a passenger welfare issue.” |
| It is not the first time there have been problems with flights between Liverpool and Barcelona. | It is not the first time there have been problems with flights between Liverpool and Barcelona. |
| In June the pilot of an easyJet flight from Liverpool to Barcelona considered landing in France after two men were reported to be shouting and swearing. Police met the flight in Barcelona but no arrests were made. | In June the pilot of an easyJet flight from Liverpool to Barcelona considered landing in France after two men were reported to be shouting and swearing. Police met the flight in Barcelona but no arrests were made. |
| Last September two women was escorted off an easyJet flight returning from Barcelona to Liverpool after one allegedly hurled abuse at other passengers. | Last September two women was escorted off an easyJet flight returning from Barcelona to Liverpool after one allegedly hurled abuse at other passengers. |
| A BBC Panorama investigation last month suggested arrests of passengers suspected of being drunk at UK airports and on flights have risen by 50% in a year. It concluded a total of 387 people were arrested between February 2016 and February 2017 – up from 255 the previous year. | A BBC Panorama investigation last month suggested arrests of passengers suspected of being drunk at UK airports and on flights have risen by 50% in a year. It concluded a total of 387 people were arrested between February 2016 and February 2017 – up from 255 the previous year. |
| A survey of 4,000 cabin crew by the Unite union found that one in five had been assaulted during a flight, and more than half have either experienced or witnessed verbal, sexual or physical harassment. | A survey of 4,000 cabin crew by the Unite union found that one in five had been assaulted during a flight, and more than half have either experienced or witnessed verbal, sexual or physical harassment. |
| According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the punishment for disruption varies depending on the severity. Acts of drunkenness on an aircraft face a maximum fine of £5,000 and two years in prison. The prison sentence for endangering the safety of an aircraft is up to five years. | According to the Civil Aviation Authority, the punishment for disruption varies depending on the severity. Acts of drunkenness on an aircraft face a maximum fine of £5,000 and two years in prison. The prison sentence for endangering the safety of an aircraft is up to five years. |
| Disruptive passengers may also be asked to reimburse the airline with the cost of the diversion. Diversion costs typically range from £10,000 to £80,000 depending on the size of the aircraft and where it is diverted to. | Disruptive passengers may also be asked to reimburse the airline with the cost of the diversion. Diversion costs typically range from £10,000 to £80,000 depending on the size of the aircraft and where it is diverted to. |
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