Teenager's mid‑air chaos forces emergency landing in Italy
During an EasyJet flight from Turkey to the United Kingdom, a 16-year-old passenger became unruly, attacking the crew and attempting to open the plane's door. As a result, the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Italy.
Due to the teenager's disruptive behaviour on board, the EasyJet flight from Antalya to London Gatwick had to land in Bari, Italy. The girl assaulted crew members, tried to open the aircraft door, and issued threats to the staff.
Nightmare on the flight
Witnesses reported that the conflict began when a 10-year-old girl beside the teenager started coughing. The aggressor reportedly followed the child to the toilet, preventing her from leaving. The girl's mother and the flight crew intervened.
"She just started shouting abuse at the crew members and then she stormed to the back of the plane. She was trying to open the door and she broke the handle. The crew members pulled her away and restrained her," recounted one of the passengers quoted by "The Sun".
During the intervention, the teenager threatened the staff and hurled objects at other passengers, causing panic on board. Due to the safety threat, the pilot opted to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport.
After landing in Bari, the aggressive passenger was detained by the Italian police. The remaining passengers were accommodated in a hotel and resumed their journey the following day.
EasyJet explained that flight EZY8556 from Antalya to London Gatwick on December 27th was diverted to Bari due to a passenger's disruptive behaviour. The airline noted that its crew, trained to handle such situations, acted promptly and appropriately to maintain the safety of everyone on board. Ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remains EasyJet's top priority.
