Ryanair Calls Police After Passenger Urinates In Aisle Amid Flight To Tenerife

A Ryanair flight from East Midlands Airport to Tenerife was forced to call ahead for police assistance after several disruptive passengers caused chaos on board, including one individual who reportedly urinated in the aisle of the aircraft, according to British online newspaper The Independent. The incident occurred on Monday, November 4, during Flight FR3152, which was en route to Tenerife South Airport in the Canary Islands from East Midlands, United Kingdom.

Urination incident on board, sources said

The flight, which took off at 06:29 local time, was scheduled to last approximately four and a half hours. It was, however, overshadowed by what Ryanair characterized as “a small number of disruptive passengers. While details of the disturbance remain unclear, sources told online media “Travel and Tour Word” that the situation escalated to the point where one passenger urinated on the cabin floor in the middle of the aisle, adding a particularly disturbing element to the chaos. This behavior put the crew and passengers’ comfort and safety in jeopardy by causing a chaotic atmosphere on board, coupled with other unreported disruptions, Travel and Tour World said.

The flight crew requested police help from the authorities before landing in reaction to the increasing disruption. As the plane neared Tenerife, air traffic control prioritized the flight’s approach, adjusting the route to ensure a swift and safe landing. Ground authorities were also informed, and local police were on standby to meet the aircraft upon arrival.

Police meet aircraft and passengers removed

The flight landed at Tenerife, Spain, at around 11:00 local time, and passengers involved in the disturbance were escorted off the plane by local police officers. The airline did not explain the nature of the disruptive behavior but stated that safety and security concerns drove the decision to involve law enforcement.

Ryanair said in a statement to Simple Flying:

“The crew of this flight from Edinburgh to Tenerife (4 Nov) called ahead for police assistance after a small number of passengers became disruptive onboard. The aircraft was met by local police upon arrival at Tenerife Airport and these passengers were removed. This is now a matter for local police.”

However, the airline didn’t respond to the inquiry about whether the company would enhance disruptive passenger handling procedures.

A local air traffic control organization later posted details of the incident on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):

“The crew of a flight arriving from the UK to Tenerife South requested police presence upon landing due to an unruly passenger on board. We prioritized their approach by shortening the route where feasible and managing surrounding traffic to ensure coordination with the police.”

Rise in disruptive passengers

Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, recently told The Independent about the increase in disruptive incidents, particularly during the summer months when flight delays were at their peak. He attributed much of the rise in passenger misconduct to long waits in airports, with some travelers consuming alcohol and drugs before boarding.

In September, a flight to Ibiza had to be diverted to Toulouse after a passenger assaulted cabin crew and spat on fellow travelers, BBC reported. The altercation reportedly began when a crew member attempted to confiscate a duty-free bottle of vodka that the passenger had been drinking throughout the flight. Another incident in August saw a passenger on a Ryanair flight to Lanzarote hurling insults at his girlfriend and damaging the aircraft’s interior while under the influence.