A passenger on a Ryanair flight from Bournemouth to Girona who attempted to open an emergency exit in midair sparked a violent disturbance that forced the aircraft to divert to Toulouse on September 4, passengers and the carrier said.
Video and witness accounts show a man, described by fellow travellers as heavily intoxicated, moving toward the emergency exit while shouting "I want to go," then becoming involved in a prolonged brawl with other passengers who tried to restrain him. The flight was met by police on landing in Toulouse, and the man was taken off the aircraft before the service continued to Girona.
Passengers said the man was seen leaving a lavatory, attempting to open one emergency door, then trying another when others intervened. Witnesses said he spat at and struck other passengers and later attempted to head‑butt an elderly man seated beside him. Several travellers reported being injured or left distressed; some said they suffered panic attacks.
One witness, identified as David Malone, said the incident lasted about 30 minutes and required multiple people to restrain the man. "There was blood everywhere, there were people screaming and crying," Malone said. Another passenger described the scene as "very traumatic."
Passengers said a seatbelt extender was looped around the man’s ankles after he was pinned to the cabin floor to prevent further kicking. Video footage shows officers carrying the man across the runway at Toulouse Airport after he was removed from the aircraft.
A Ryanair spokesperson said the airline diverted the flight after a passenger became disruptive and that crew had called ahead for police assistance. "Crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon landing at Toulouse Airport and offloaded this passenger before this flight continued to Girona," the airline said. The carrier reiterated its "strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct" and said it would continue to take decisive action against unruly behaviour.
The diversion delayed the flight’s arrival in Girona by about two hours, passengers said. Local authorities met the aircraft on the ground and took the passenger into custody; details of any charges or subsequent legal action were not immediately available.
The incident adds to concerns among travellers and crew about disruptive behaviour on flights, particularly incidents involving alcohol. Several passengers on the flight called for tighter controls on alcohol sales at airports and for airlines to take stronger measures to prevent intoxicated travellers from boarding.
Crew members followed standard procedures by calling for assistance and alerting authorities on the ground, Ryanair said. The airline did not provide further details about the passenger’s identity or his condition after being removed from the aircraft.
The flight proceeded to Girona after the disruptive passenger was offloaded and the aircraft was cleared by authorities, according to Ryanair and passengers on board.