easyJet passengers heading from the UK to Italy were forced off a plane in a police incident as it was preparing to take off. A man was arrested after an incident that caused a significant delay to an easyJet flight bound for Milan from Manchester Airport.
Passengers were left in shock on Friday, October 4, as police boarded the plane. It had already started taxiing on the tarmac, but everyone was forced to disembark.
The man arrested has been accused of concealing himself “for the purpose of being carried in an aircraft” by boarding with improper documentation, according to the Manchester Evening News. The flight, which was departing from Terminal 1 for Milan Malpensa, faced extensive delays.
Originally scheduled to leave at 6.23pm, it did not take off until 11.10pm. After the ordeal, the Airbus aircraft touched down in Milan shortly before 2am on Saturday, over four and a half hours behind its planned arrival time.
The situation escalated when the aircraft had already begun moving on the runway. Passengers reported that the police conducted a thorough search of the plane, leading to everyone being re-screened.
Following the search, no suspicious items were found, and authorities are not treating the incident as related to terrorism. Commenting on the incident, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police stated: “At around 7pm last night we were called to Manchester Airport to reports of a man who had embarked on a flight without the correct documentation.
“On arrival back to the terminal, officers arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of secreting himself for the purpose of being carried in an aircraft without consent and intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance.
“He remains in police custody for questioning and enquiries are ongoing.” easyJet issued a statement on their website.
The airline extended apologised for the delay and mentioned a “passenger incident” as the cause. A spokesperson from Manchester Airport said that all security processes had been adhered to and stated that the situation was currently in the hands of the police.