A drunk yob who forced an easyJet flight to Kos to divert to Munich after downing whiskey from a bottle before take off also hurled snacks and abuse at passengers and soiled the toilet, passengers have said.
Holidaymakers jetting from Gatwick to the island didn’t get off to the most scenic start to their vacation after the man became loud and abusive before breaking the inflight intercom 30,000ft in the air.
But passengers on the EZY8235 flight have now revealed how the man was openly downing whiskey straight from a bottle, before purchasing another, right before boarding the flight while EasyJet staff watched.
Authorities and emergency services were waiting for the flight on Tuesday afternoon when it made an emergency landing.
One brave passenger, believed to have experience working with patients with mental health issues and addiction problems, reportedly helped staff restrain the passenger until they landed and police arrived.
It comes as fresh footage that emerged today revealed how it took multiple police officers to escort him from the plane.
Do you know the passenger? Email: shannon.mcguigan@mailonline.co.uk
Authorities and emergency services were waiting for the flight on Tuesday afternoon when it made an emergency landing
The disruptive passenger was arrested by police in Munich after the flight from Gatwick to Kos was diverted
Donna, her husband, his niece and nephew-in-law all boarded the flight this week for a relaxing holiday in the sun.
But reality rapidly came crashing back after Donna was seated right behind the passenger, who fellow holidaymakers claimed was drinking heavily in the departure lounge, watched by EasyJet staff.
The cabin crew told Donna they were warned of the man’s behaviour, which including shouting loudly down the plane and calling the captain a ‘w***er’.
Even before take-off he was being extremely loud and abusive, Donna told MailOnline.
The passenger then began demanding more alcohol from staff before pulling out his own bottle of scotch, which she said he started offering to other passengers.
‘He was standing up and shouting, “The captain’s a w***er”,’ Donna said. ‘He was swearing a lot and being rowdy, calling people a c***.’
After trying to distract the man in conversation, Donna said she approached a member of the crew and asked them not to give him any more to drink, before returning to her seat to find him sipping from his own bottle of whiskey.
The crew are said to have brought the man to the front of the plane and placed him next to the door.
‘All the passengers were terrified,’ Donna said. ‘We didn’t know what he would do.’
She said one annoyed holidaymaker then began shouting at the man to ‘shut up’, antagonising him further.
The drunken passenger is said to have responded: ‘I ain’t your f****** mate, you c***.’
He allegedly then began telling Donna: ‘I don’t like it when people tell me what to do’.
As the situation deteriorated and the ‘drunk’ passenger began getting more aggressive, she says the only reason someone didn’t get hurt was due to fellow passenger Joseph.
A drunk passenger became disruptive on the easyJet flight to Kos, Greece last Tuesday(Pictured: Passengers and crew members escorting the individual from plane)
Passengers were left furious after the boozy passenger caused their flight to be diverted to Munich (Pictured: An angered passenger who told the unruly flyer to ‘get off’)
‘He had some kind of background working with mental health and addiction patients,’ she told MailOnline.
‘He basically volunteered to sit with this guy and just keep him there, talking to him, calming him down.
‘Without him things would have been so much worse. The crew were completely out of their depth. They tried their best, but honestly they were completely useless.
‘He should never have been allowed to board. It was an absolute disgrace’.
She added the man had told her he’d been ‘in and out of prison’.
Several passengers were reportedly left ‘fearing for their lives’ as the incident escalated.
EasyJet said previously it organised hotel stays for all passengers and provided them with meals. But according to Donna, some passengers were left to fend for themselves, and those with young children struggled to travel to their hotels due to local taxis not having car seats.
Passengers needing special assistance also reported waiting up to 90 minutes for help so they could disembark from the flight.
The other inconvenienced travellers were put up in hotels and were given meals by the aviation company.
In the clip, which has over half-a-million views, passengers clapped as authorities and brave staff hurled him away.
One frustrated flyer can be seen shouting at the drunken passenger: ‘Get off you loser.’
The plane later let out a roaring round of applause for one traveller, who according to the video, had bravely helped staff restrain the boozy flyer until the plane landed.
Reliving the incident, a source told The Sun: ‘The cabin crew were great and very brave but the whole drama was very upsetting.’
According to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, acts of drunkenness on an aircraft can result in fines of up to £5,000 and a two-year prison sentence.
An easyJet spokesperson said: ‘Flight EZY8235 on 3 September from London Gatwick to Kos diverted to Munich and was met by police due to a passenger behaving disruptively onboard.
‘Safety is easyJet’s highest priority and our cabin crew are trained to assess and act quickly and appropriately in all situations 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 behaviour onboard.
‘The flight was delayed overnight while we arranged a replacement crew and provided customers with hotel accommodation and meals along with updates on the flight’s departure this afternoon. While this was outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused.’
EasyJet has been contacted for further comment.
It comes shortly after police escorted a drunk passenger off a flight to Dalaman after having to do a U-turn on the runway at Manchester Airport.
Passengers on the flight on June 22 watched on as Jet2 staff had to abandon take off and return to the gate where police removed the allegedly drunk man from the plane.
Video footage posted on social media shows three police officers inside the cabin.
The passenger, who sported black sunglasses and a neck pillow, was originally sat down and stood up as the policeman asked him: ‘Have you got any cabin bags?’
Police apprehended the individual and escorted him away handcuffed, while the other inconvenienced travellers were put up in hotels (Pictured: The plane cheering a traveller who helped apprehend the passenger on the EZY8235 flight)
Reliving the incident, a source told The Sun : ‘The cabin crew were great and very brave but the whole drama was very upsetting (Pictured: Cheering passengers on the EZY8235 flight)
A flight attendant responded: ‘Yes, I’ll get them out for you in a second.’
The officer looked at the man about to be ejected from the flight and said: ‘We might be needing them.’
As the police and flight attendant headed to get the man’s cabin baggage, he turned to face the disgruntled passengers and appeared to hold up his hands.
The man said: ‘Sorry, everyone, sorry.’
However, his apology was not welcomed by everyone and one person can be heard saying: ‘You’re not sorry at all mate.’
The man quickly replied: ‘I am sorry, I am.’
A woman who appeared to be with the holidaymaker stood up and turned to accompany him off the flight, which was then supposedly delayed by 24 hours according to social media.
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