Passenger tries to open plane door on Zadar flight

NEWS FLASH

A British boxer had to be removed from a Zadar to London Stansted flight operated by Ryanair last Friday after he tried to open the plane door and was subsequently tackled by fellow passengers, video footage posted online this week has revealed. The plane was taxiing to the runway and preparing for takeoff at the time the incident took place. The boxer was recorded getting up from his seat and yelling before heading to the front of the plane to demand staff to open the door. Two passengers sprung into action to restrain the 27-year-old by tackling him to the ground. The woman who filmed the incident claimed most passengers were returning from Croatia’s Hideout festival. She also suggested the man was drunk and potentially under the influence of drugs. The British tourist was later filmed being escorted off the plane and dragged across the airport’s tarmac. The Zadar Police Department confirmed a 27-year-old British man had been arrested and the force had launched an investigation into the incident. The Ryanair flight, operated by a Lauda Europe A320, was delayed by over two hours on departure as a result of the incident. Commenting on the matter, Ryanair said, "This flight from Zadar to London Stansted returned to the stand when an individual passenger became disruptive while preparing for takeoff. The passenger was removed from the aircraft by local police before the flight continued safely to London Stansted. This is now a matter for local police. We sincerely apologise to affected passengers for any inconvenience caused as a result of this passenger's disruptive behaviour".