TL:DR – Jet2 flight diverts after disturbing footage reveals in-flight brawl over ‘racist remark’
- A Jet2 flight from Antalya to Manchester was diverted to Belgium due to a mid-air brawl over racist remarks.
- Two passengers were involved in a fight after one attempted to grab another’s phone.
- Witnesses reported seeing blood and teeth on the floor, with some calling the experience distressing.
- Police arrested the two men upon landing, and Jet2 announced a lifetime ban for them.
- The airline condemned the behaviour and will seek to recover costs from the individuals.
Jet2 flight diverts midair after ‘appalling’ footage shows fight over ‘racist comment’
A Jet2 flight was forced to divert after a passenger made ‘racist remarks’ before getting into a fight 30,000 ft in the air.
The flight, which was travelling from Antalya, Turkey, to Manchester, England was diverted to Belgium over the ‘appalling behaviour’ of two passengers.
Footage shows the punch-up in the aisle with onlookers screaming.
One passenger described it as one of the most ‘distressing experiences’ they had ever had, with some claiming they could see blood and teeth on the floor.
The argument reportedly started after one of the men tried to grab the others’ phone, which was playing music loudly.
Reform UK supporters racially attack Jet2 staff at 30,000 ft
One of the men had allegedly been drinking and making racist remarks, and had become aggressive towards cabin crew over cigarettes.
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A witness told The Sun: ‘Although he had been drinking on the flight, he was fully aware of his surroundings, knew exactly what he was saying, and was oriented throughout.’
He then ‘became confrontational, intimidating and openly racist toward the Pakistani passengers around him’.
Jet2 said: ‘Flight LS896 from Antalya to Manchester diverted to Brussels yesterday, due to the appalling behaviour of two disruptive passengers.
‘They were both offloaded by police in Brussels and the flight continued to Manchester.
‘We can confirm that the two disruptive passengers will be banned from flying with us for life.
‘We will also vigorously pursue them to recover the costs that we incurred as a result of this diversion.
‘As a family-friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour, and we are very sorry that other customers and our colleagues onboard had to experience this too.’