An EasyJet flight that was heading to Belfast from London’s Gatwick Airport on Thursday ended up taking off two hours late because of a dispute between a passenger and airline staff over the number of bags he was allowed to bring on board, reports NBC News.
The Guardian says he apparently wanted to bring two bags on board, which goes against EasyJet’s policy of allowing one piece of “hand baggage” per passenger. Witnesses say he argued with the staff at the gate, but was allowed to board.
Once he was on the plane, passengers say he continued to act up in the back of the aircraft. Police said they were called after “reports of a passenger who was becoming increasingly abusive following a dispute over luggage.”
Another passenger told NBC News that police approached the raging man calmly and asked him to step off the flight, but he” started shouting and demanding why his ‘man purse’ had caused a problem.”
He was reportedly told he’d be Tasered if he didn’t cooperate, with the eyewitness saying he’d been “very loud and aggressive by this point.”
Police confirmed that the man was then shot with a stun gun and arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace. All passengers and crew had to deplane as well and go through police interviews as witnesses. The flight took off two and half hours later, and landed safely in Belfast.
“EasyJet’s cabin crew are highly 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,” a spokesperson for the airline told the Guardian. Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously, do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour on board and always push for prosecution. The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always easyJet’s priority.”
EasyJet Passenger Tasered After Dispute Over Carry-On ‘Man Purse’ [NBC News]
Man Tasered on easyJet flight after reports of luggage dispute [The Guardian]
by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist
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