Chaos on plane as 'disruptive passengers' marched off flight

30 May 2024 , 10:55

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TUI have since issued an apology following the delay (Image: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Frustrated passengers on board a TUI plane were forced to sit on the tarmac for two hours after "disruptive" guests held up the flight.

The plane was set to head from Glasgow Airport to Cancun, Mexico, at 10.05am on Wednesday but it didn't take off until 12.28pm following the incident. A spokesperson for the airline said they do not tolerate "unacceptable behaviour" which is why they had to escort the group off the plane.

TUI apologised for the hold up and explained that they had to put the safety of the rest of the passengers first. A spokesperson for TUI UK and Ireland said: "We'd like to apologise to customers on TOM684 from Glasgow to Cancun, who had a delayed departure due to disruptive passengers on board the flight.

"Our goal is to ensure customers have the best possible flight experience, so this is not the way we wanted their holiday to start." The spokesperson told Glasgow Live: "The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and any unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated. The customers involved were offloaded from the aircraft and the flight was able to continue its journey. The flight departed Glasgow for Cancun at 12.28pm, Wednesday May 29."

The incident comes just days after a drunken passenger had to be kicked off another TUI flight. The Turkey-bound flight had only just left Glasgow Airport when the pilot announced that they had to divert to Newcastle International Airport due to the chaotic behaviour from a holidaymaker on board.

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Police were called and had to escort the man off the plane. He was believed to have been heavily intoxicated during the incident. One passenger said: "They were seen drunk while boarding the plane. He refused to surrender his own bottle of gin and became verbally abusive.

"An announcement was made 45 minutes after take-off that we were diverting with reason of unruly passenger. It took a further 45 minutes before we arrived at Newcastle, at around 7pm. Two police officers boarded the plane and handcuffed him but he became unsettled so two more officers came on board. His partner was also removed from the plane to a chorus of boos as she gave everyone the middle finger."

Keiran Fleming