Passengers on an EasyJet flight from Antalya, Turkey, to London Gatwick endured a terrifying ordeal when a 16-year-old girl allegedly caused chaos mid-flight. The flight, scheduled to land at Gatwick, was forced to make an emergency landing in Bari, Italy, after the teenager reportedly threatened to stab cabin crew and attempted to open a plane door during an altercation over a coughing 10-year-old passenger.
Incident Onboard
Eyewitnesses described the scene as “carnage” when the teenager, seated near a 10-year-old girl, became agitated over the child’s coughing. She reportedly shouted at the young girl, followed her to the toilet, and later began verbally abusing the child’s mother. Passengers and crew described the teen’s behavior as increasingly erratic and threatening.
Nadine, 39, a passenger from Reading traveling with her 19-year-old daughter, said:
“It turned to hell on the flight home. The teenage girl was shouting, threatening crew members, and even tried to open the plane door. Everyone was terrified.”
Emergency Response
The situation escalated when the teenager allegedly broke the handle of the plane door and threw her shoes at passengers. Cabin crew intervened to restrain her, but the incident left many passengers distressed, with some reportedly falling ill due to the stress and chaos. The pilot made the decision to divert to Bari for the safety of everyone onboard.
Upon landing, the flight was met by police, firefighters, and maintenance teams. The disruptive passenger was arrested, and statements were collected from witnesses.
Passenger Reactions
Passengers were left shaken by the ordeal. Nadine’s daughter, Jernai, expressed fear about traveling again, saying the experience was “traumatizing.” Nadine herself described the subsequent accommodations in Bari as appalling, citing poor hotel conditions and a lack of basic amenities.
“I’ve never been so relieved to be home,” she said. “This has ruined my Christmas.
EasyJet Statement
In a statement, EasyJet confirmed the incident, stating:
“Flight EZY8556 from Antalya to London Gatwick diverted to Bari due to a passenger behaving disruptively onboard. Our cabin crew acted quickly and appropriately to ensure the safety of all passengers.”
The airline apologized for the disruption, provided hotel accommodations and meals, and pledged to reimburse any expenses incurred. However, many passengers, including Nadine, criticized the airline for a lack of communication and support during the ordeal.
Looking Forward
The incident has left lasting impacts on passengers, with many expressing hesitation about future air travel. EasyJet reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and emphasized that disruptive behavior is taken very seriously.
For passengers like Nadine and Jernai, however, the emotional and physical toll of the experience has overshadowed their holiday memories.
“It was nothing but stress,” Nadine said. “I don’t think I’ll go on a holiday for at least a year after this.”
Police Investigation Ongoing
Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, and the teenager remains in custody. Further updates are expected as the case develops.
