Man charged after 'disturbance' on diverted EasyJet flight from Glasgow to Tenerife

A man has been charged after an EasyJet flight from Glasgow to Tenerife was forced to divert to Bristol due to a “disturbance” on board.

Brian Watt, 34, from Rothesay, has been charged with one count of being drunk on an aircraft, criminal damage and failing to obey the lawful commands of the pilot while onboard an aircraft.

He was also charged in connection with using threatening, abusive or insulting words towards crew while in an aircraft.

Watt is due to appear at North Somerset Magistrates Courthouse on Monday.

Avon and Somerset Police arrested another man on called suspicion of being drunk on the aircraft after being called to Bristol Airport at around 5pm on Saturday, April 20.

The man, in his 20s, was released with no further action taken.

A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said: “A 34-year-old man has been charged after officers were called after a flight diverted into Bristol Airport en-route to Spain.

“Brian Watt, from Rothesay, Scotland, has been charged with one count each of being drunk on an aircraft, criminal damage, failing to obey the lawful commands of the pilot while onboard an aircraft and using threatening, abusive or insulting words towards crew while in an aircraft.

“The charges come after police were called to Bristol Airport on Saturday 20 April at around 5pm, following a report of passengers causing a disturbance on a plane travelling to Spain from Scotland.

“One other person, a man in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of being drunk on an aircraft.

“He was released with no further action.

“Watt will appear before magistrates at North Somerset Courthouse on Monday, April 22.”

EasyJet confirmed flight EZY3113 bound for Tenerife was forced to divert after two passengers began “behaving disruptively onboard” and were removed from the aircraft.

The flight then took off around three hours later before landing at Tenerife South a few minutes before midnight.

An EasyJet spokesperson said: “EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY3113 from Glasgow to Tenerife on April 20 diverted to Bristol where the aircraft was met by police due to two passengers behaving disruptively onboard.

“The flight then continued to Tenerife once the passengers were removed.

“EasyJet’s cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time.

“Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously and do not tolerate disruptive behaviour onboard, with the safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew always our highest priority.”