Eight Arrested After Mid-Air Fight on EasyJet

Eight men were arrested at a North-East airport on suspicion of taking part in a drunken brawl on board a flight from Spain.

Northumbria Police said they were called to meet the EasyJet flight from Alicante, Spain, when it landed at Newcastle International Airport late on Sunday night.

A police spokesman said the arrests followed reports of a "fracas" among a group of men on the Boeing 737.

More than 100 passengers became alarmed by the disturbance, which broke out midway through the flight.

It is alleged the men, all believed to be from the Wearside area, had been drinking heavily and were abusive before the flight left Alicante Airport at 9.20pm.

EasyJet said none of the 139 passengers and five crew onboard the flight was injured during the disturbance.

Inspector Jan Harrison said yesterday: "A group of eight men were involved in a brawl on board. They had been drinking and became more rowdy. I'm sure other passengers would have been alarmed by their behaviour.

"Cabin crew alerted us and we boarded the plane when it landed.

"The majority of the passengers were allowed off first and those suspected of taking part in the fight were kept on until they were arrested.

"They are now in cells at Etal Lane Police Station while inquiries continue."

A statement released by the airline said: "EasyJet has a zero tolerance policy towards any unreasonable behaviour and, as a result, eight passengers were removed from the flight by police for disruptive behaviour on landing at Newcastle."

Those arrested face charges of endangering the safety of an aircraft.

In April last year, another fight broke out on an EasyJet flight from Belfast to Newcastle. The pilot was forced to turn back with more than 100 passengers on board.

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