The bizarre incident that forced plane to make emergency landing
Of all the reasons a plane might be forced to make an emergency landing – severe weather, technical issues, a medical episode – this has to be the most bizarre we’ve ever heard.
A Transavia Airlines flight from Dubai to Amsterdam Schiphol was forced to divert to Vienna Airport after a fight broke over a passenger who allegedly refused to stop farting. Yes, you read that right.
Metro reports that the cabin crew failed to help the passengers after they complained, which led to the fight. Despite a warning from the pilot, the argument continued, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.
Upon landing in Vienna, police boarded the plane to remove two women and two men whom the pilot described as “passengers on the rampage”.
The two women, sisters, are now taking Transavia to court over the incident, claiming they were unfairly removed as they were not part of the altercation.
One of them, 25-year-old law student Nora Lachhab, said being kicked off the flight was “humiliating”.
“We had no idea who these boys were, we just had the bad luck to be in the same row and we didn’t do anything,” she told De Telegraaf. “All I will say is that the crew were really provocative and stirred things up.”
None of the four passengers involved were charged, however all have been banned from flying with the budget airline in the future.
“Our crew must ensure a safe flight,” Transavia said in a statement. “When passengers pose risks, they immediately intervene. Our people are trained for that. They know very well where the boundaries are. Transavia is therefore square behind the cabin crew and the pilots.”