Passengers travelling from Cancun to Manchester on TUI flight BY143 on 4 June faced a 14-hour delay after the aircraft was diverted to the small town of Gander in Canada because of a disruptive passenger.
According to one of the passengers, the man became increasingly aggressive during the flight, attempted several times to leave his seat and allegedly tried to exit the Boeing 787-9 aircraft (registration G-TUIM). He also made alarming remarks about a person carrying a knife, causing distress among passengers, including many children.
Cabin crew, assisted by a doctor on board, reportedly managed to restrain the man. However, as the flight approached the Atlantic crossing, the pilot judged that the situation posed too great a risk and diverted the Boeing aircraft to Canada, where local police removed the passenger.
The passenger said the man’s wife later suggested his behaviour may have been linked to diazepam allegedly purchased from a taxi driver while on holiday in Mexico.
The diversion left passengers stranded in Canada for several hours before they could continue their journey to Manchester Airport.