British father faces jail after brawl with police as Ryanair flight forced to land over rowdy behaviour

WATCH: Shocking Reasons Planes Were Forced to Land Early

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GB NEWS

Sophie Little

By Sophie Little


Published: 29/09/2025

- 23:29

Updated: 30/09/2025

- 00:37

The man threatened to 'open the doors' as he sat in the emergency exit row

A British father is facing five years in prison after brawling with police who came to arrest him when his rowdy behaviour forced a Ryanair flight to make an emergency landing.

The man has not been named, but it is understood he was in custody in Toulouse on Monday.


It is believed the accused was "the ring leader" of a group of stag revellers described as "drunk men" who were thrown off a flight last Friday by elite special forces police.

The plane, which had taken off from London-Luton Airport, was headed to Alicante, in southern Spain, when the man threatened to "open the doors".

As a result, pilots were forced to make an emergency landing in France.

An investigating source said: "He was next to an emergency door, and trying to open it. It was terrifying for everybody else on the flight. The pilot had no other option except to land the plane."

Despite attempts from both the cabin crew and fellow passengers to calm the group of men, chaos continued to unravel.

When the plane landed at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, a unit of the Air Transport Gendarmerie Company (CGTA) was waiting.

Footage of the incident

The man is facing up to five years in prison

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Four officers then removed the man who had made the threat from the plan, having restrained him and placing him in handcuffs.

However, one passenger added that "tensions escalated further" when it became clear the man and his friends were being removed, as they tried to resist.

The investigating source said: "He was very drunk and was taken to a Border Police cell to sober up.

"His blood alcohol level was so high that it was a number of hours before he could be spoken to.

FLIGHT MAYHEM - READ MORE:

Footage of the incident

The man had threatened to open the emergency doors and passengers had complained of rowdy behaviour

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"Around four of his friends were taken off the flight at the same time, and arrested.

"The principal accused is now at the centre of a judicial enquiry, and faces trial and a punishment of up to five years."

Ludovic Fornaru, CGTA commander, praised the "extreme professionalism" of his team, and the other French units "who cooperated with us".

The authorities confirmed that the flight was diverted to Toulouse at "around 9.30pm on Friday", but returned on its journey at 10.15pm once the men had been removed.

Footage of the incident

Special forces police boarded the plane as soon as it landed in Toulouse

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In footage posted online, passengers could be heard cheering as the men were taken away by police.

A spokesman for Ryanair said: "This flight from London-Luton to Alicante was diverted to Toulouse after several passengers disrupted the flight.

"The crew then requested the intervention of the police, who met the plane upon arrival at Toulouse airport and disembarked these passengers before the flight returned to its original destination."

They added that the airline "has a zero-tolerance police for unacceptable passenger behaviour and will continue to take strict measure to address it, ensuring all passengers and crew have a smooth and enjoyable journey, without unnecessary disruption".

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