An EasyJet flight en route from Manchester to Tenerife was compelled to divert to Lanzarote due to the unruly behavior of eight passengers on board. Spanish air traffic controllers initiated this
diversion, as concerns arose about the potential for assaults occurring during the flight.
EasyJet's flight, identified as EZY34TV, departed from Manchester slightly after 7 am on Friday, September 29, and landed in Lanzarote at approximately 1:20 pm local time.
Among the passengers causing disruption, four individuals, identified and reported to the Spanish Air Safety and Security Agency (AESA), will now face fines. Their actions were attributed to their inebriation, although they cooperated with authorities upon arrival in Lanzarote.
Air traffic controllers actively aided the pilot in executing the diversion, explaining in a statement, "The crew of a flight from Manchester to Tenerife South has informed us of the presence of eight violent passengers on board. Faced with the possibility of assaults, they have requested to divert to Lanzarote."
They further detailed their coordination efforts, stating, "We instructed them to a direct route and cut their approach where possible. At the same time, police presence was coordinated for their arrival. We reiterate our support for air crews and passengers who have to endure these situations."
The financial penalties for such breaches can range from £50 to £40,000, with individuals responsible potentially being required to cover diversion costs and even facing bans from the airline.
A spokesperson for EasyJet addressed the situation, confirming, "EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY2011 from Manchester to Tenerife on 29 September was diverted to Lanzarote where the aircraft was met by police due to passengers behaving disruptively onboard. The flight then continued to Tenerife."
They emphasized the airline's commitment to safety, stating, "EasyJet's 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. While such incidents are rare, we take them very seriously and do not tolerate abusive or threatening behavior towards our crew or other passengers. We would like to apologize to the other passengers for any inconvenience caused. The safety and well-being of our passengers, crew, and ground agents is always EasyJet's priority." Photo by Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, Wikimedia commons.