A Frenchman has been ejected from a luxury cruise liner after embarking on a protest against unexpected journey changes.
Alain Jan, 53, from the French island of Réunion, was holidaying on a Costa Cruises liner when a Madagascan outbreak of the Black Plague forced the captain to revise island stops.
After three locations around Mauritius were cancelled, a furious Mr Jan helped mount a mutiny with sixty other passengers – and was subsequently removed from the vessel as a consequence.
Ejected: Alain Jan, 53, from the French island of Réunion, was asked to disembark a Costa Cruises vessel after mounting a protest with sixty other passengers
The outbreak, which has been described as the ‘worst in 50 years’ and deemed to be at ‘crisis’ point, has now infected 1,947 people in the country off the coast of Africa.
New figures from the World Health Organization also show the ‘medieval disease’ has now claimed the lives of 143 people.
But, despite being offered €150 in compensation, Mr Jan – who was travelling with his wife – was not satisfied.
‘They were taking the mickey,’ he told French newspaper Le Parisien, before likening the experience to being on a ‘floating prison’.
‘There were 60 of us banging our fists on the table to alert other cruise passengers to this con job.’
Shortly after, a second protest took place, causing local police to board the ship and investigate as it approached the Seychelles.
Danger: More than 1,300 cases have now been reported in Madagascar, health chiefs have revealed, as nearby nations have been placed on high alert
‘He listened to both our version of events and I asked to speak to the French ambassador,’ added Mr Jan. ‘Then the policeman asked the captain if he wanted to disembark anyone and he pointed to me.’
According to reports, Costa Cruises later confirmed that a passenger had been asked to disembark.
A spokesperson for the company told the Telegraph: ‘The company made every effort to maintain the stop-offs on Madagascar, looking into all the alternatives,’ but that ‘security, health and wellbeing of passengers and crew are an absolute priority’.
MailOnline have contacted Costa Cruises, but are yet to receive a response.