Two men and a woman have been arrested and banned from travel after a “mass brawl” broke out on a flight from Aberdeen to London.
Police in Sussex were alerted to a “racially aggravated” argument between passengers on the EasyJet flight from Aberdeen to Gatwick Airport at around midnight on Saturday.
The “loud brawl” is said to have started mid-air, with an eye-witness claiming that even the pilot tried to forcefully break up the quarrel by dropping the plane down.
One of the passengers on board also claimed the plane was unable to land amid the disruption and almost had to be re-directed.
The two men involved in the argument were arrested by police upon landing at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
Officers confirmed one of them has been issued with a community resolution, while the other faced no further police action.
The woman was arrested on suspicion of intending to cause harassment, alarm or distress on racial grounds and was also issued with a community resolution.
A spokesman for Sussex police said: “Sussex police received a report of an altercation between passengers on board a flight from Aberdeen to London Gatwick Airport in the early hours of March 19.
“Officers arrested two men on suspicion of causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, and one woman was arrested on suspicion of intending to cause harassment, alarm or distress, which was also racially aggravated.
“One of the men faced no further police action, while the other man and the woman were issued with a community resolution.
“All three have been banned from travel with the airline.”
‘Safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is our highest priority’
A spokeswoman for EasyJet said such incidents are rare and they are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all passengers and crew members on board.
She said: “We can confirm that flight number EZY871 from Aberdeen to London Gatwick was met by police on arrival in London Gatwick due to three passengers behaving disruptively.
“While such incidents are rare, we take them very seriously, and do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour on board.
“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.
“The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is our highest priority.”
