Five Disruptive Passengers Force Flight Route Change from Newcastle to Alicante

Tension arose on a flight from Newcastle destined for Alicante-Elche airport. Air traffic controllers at the Alicante aerodrome decided to shorten the route to address an emergency on board, as reported by TodoAlicante.

The plane's captain reported the presence of five disruptive passengers on board. Consequently, air traffic controllers decided to shorten the route so that the Boeing 737 could land as soon as possible and requested police presence. The plane landed without incident, and the Civil Guard identified the passengers, who cooperated fully with the officers, according to the same sources.

Actions by the National Police and the Armed Institute at the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport to resolve conflicts with foreign tourists are common, whether during the flight or at the aerodrome itself. On February 25, the police had to intervene to control an aggressive British tourist waiting in the terminal for a return flight to his country.

Around 12:40 pm, the Security Control Centre (CSEG) at the Alicante aerodrome located a 58-year-old British citizen in a semi-conscious state on level -2. Medical services required police presence, as he was still aggressive even on the stretcher. After several tests, the individual was transferred to the General University Hospital of Elche.

The British tourist, who was waiting in the terminal to catch a flight back to his country, remained grounded because he could not board the flight home.

One of the worst journeys in recent years involved a British citizen returning to Manchester after spending some days in Alicante. He was a repeat offender, as admitted in a trial where he was found guilty of aggravated racial harassment and boarding a plane while intoxicated.

Christopher B., aged 44, was sentenced this February to six months in prison for turning the three-hour journey between Alicante and Manchester on November 8, 2023, into utter chaos. Biting and spitting while foaming at the mouth were some of the actions that exhausted the patience of passengers, who restrained him mid-flight, according to witnesses.

When the Manchester police arrived at the aerodrome and boarded the EasyJet plane, they found him immobilised by other passengers, face down on the floor. Travellers informed authorities that the troublemaker had been "biting and spitting" and that the behaviour lasted "about half an hour".

During the trial, his defence stated before the court that he felt "deeply ashamed" and wanted to apologise for his offensive language. The lawyer argued that his client had been on holiday when he received news that his mother had sepsis and was hospitalised in a critical condition, but the court sentenced the accused to 24 weeks in prison.