Ryanair Flight Diverted After Passenger Eats Passport Midair

VIENNA– A Ryanair (FR) flight was diverted after a passenger reportedly tore up and ate parts of their passport midair. The unusual incident occurred on a flight bound from Milan (MXP) to London (STN), forcing the crew to make an unscheduled landing in Paris for safety.

The flight was carrying holidaymakers and business travelers when the disruption unfolded. The passenger not only consumed parts of the travel document but also attempted to flush the remaining fragments down the aircraft’s lavatory.

Photo: simon butler | Flickr

Ryanair Flight Diverted Due to Passenger

Cabin crew followed standard protocol after the passenger’s behavior became unmanageable. The unusual act of eating a passport raised concerns about the traveler’s state of mind and the potential risks to flight safety.

An eyewitness reminisced about the incident in the following manner:

Staff were notified and went to see what was going on at the front of the plane. Suddenly the whole mood changed – no one on board knew what was going on, these people were acting weird.

Pilots diverted the aircraft to Paris, where local authorities boarded and escorted the passenger off the plane. The remaining passengers later continued their journey to Milan on an alternative service.

Photo: Steve Knight | Flickr

Crew Response And Safety Protocols

Airlines are trained to respond to disruptive passenger behavior, regardless of its cause. In this case, the act of destroying and consuming a travel document created an unpredictable scenario in the cabin. The diversion was made to ensure the safety of both passengers and crew.

The Sun reported about the reaction of the crew:

A flight attendant is said to have then knocked on the toilet door and attempted to convince the passenger not to flush his passport. A “blunt” announcement was made about what was going on and eventually the flight was diverted to Paris.

A spokesperson confirmed that the crew acted swiftly and appropriately, prioritizing safety above all else. A witness described the incident as “the most terrifying 15 minutes of my life”.

Photo: Ryanair

Bottom Line

European carriers, including Ryanair, have seen occasional reports of disruptive passenger behavior leading to diversions. However, the destruction and ingestion of a passport stand out as a particularly unusual case.

The European Union requires air travelers to carry valid travel documents across borders, making the act not only disruptive but also a violation of legal requirements for air travel.

This unusual incident underlines the complex challenges airlines face in ensuring both regulatory compliance and passenger safety.

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