Passenger’s Racist Tirade Forces EasyJet Flight to Land Early

Allegedly drunk flyer accused of racist tirades before forcing flight to land early.

A legless EasyJet flyer has been accused of attacking the cabin crew and launching racist rants, leading to his ejection after forcing the flight to divert. Britain’s The Mirror reports EasyJet Flight 1891, from Manchester to Marrakech, diverted to Lisbon after alcohol played a factor in the incident, according to passengers.

According to witness accounts, the flyer was drinking before joining approximately 200 more passengers aboard the flight. After boarding, he was given a drink by other flyers who were drinking alcohol they brought onboard.

As the flight progressed, the passenger allegedly became more agitated and made racist remarks towards others. The pilots ultimately made the decision to land after a flight attendant claimed the passenger grabbed them twice around the neck. The aircraft was met by police, but it is unclear if the accused flyer was ultimately arrested.

After diverting to Lisbon, the flight could not continue to its final destination. Instead, passengers were forced to take refuge in hotels for the night, some as far as an hour away from the airport. Passengers told the newspaper and social media that they were frustrated by the situation.

“The whole experience was awful,” one passenger aboard EZ1891 told The Mirror. “The amount of noise coming from the drunken people felt like we were going to Ibiza or somewhere like that – not what you’d expect on a plane to Marrakech.”

In a statement to the newspaper, the airline said cabin crew members are trained to “assess and evaluate” situations in order to ensure passenger safety. The decision to land the flight was made after the passenger displayed aggressive behavior, and those affected were given a free hotel stay for the night.

Data collected by the airline industry suggests that alcohol-related incidents are on the rise around the world. In a survey conducted by the International Air Transportation Association, nearly one in four diverted flights involve intoxicated passengers.

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