A Ryanair flight was forced to ground at Manchester Airport after a passenger allegedly attempted to ‘open an emergency exit’ mid-flight, according to an eyewitness on board.
Other passengers intervened and alerted the cabin crew, who then involved the flight’s captain, the witness added. The individual was moved away from the emergency exit seat, with the captain having to stay by the exit. The aircraft was landed and the woman in question was ‘escorted off the plane by Greater Manchester Police’, the fellow passenger reported.
Engineers were subsequently called in to assess the damage and replace parts, as per the witness’s account, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The flight has since resumed its journey from Manchester to Agadir in Morocco.
The plane left its gate as scheduled just after 9am, and took off around 9.20am this morning (August 25) from Manchester’s terminal three.
It started its journey to Al-Massira International Airport in North Africa.
However, it was diverted and landed back at Manchester Airport approximately an hour later, at around 10.09am, according to flight trackers, Flight Radar 24 and Flight Aware.
A passenger on the plane informed the Manchester Evening News: “The Ryanair flight RK1266 [from Manchester] for Agadir in Morocco [was] diverted back to Manchester Airport due to a passenger attempting to open emergency exit.
“However she was only able to get the plastic covering off and as a result was unsuccessful, as other passengers stopped her and made cabin crew aware of the situation at 9.30am, who then made the captain aware.
“The passenger was moved from the emergency exit seat and the captain remained at the emergency exit until we landed back at Manchester Airport.
“The plane landed safely and the passenger involved was escorted off the plane by Greater Manchester Police.
“Engineers came to check the door and replaced the plastic covers.”
The aircraft spent one hour and seven minutes airborne before touching down again in Manchester.
Flight RUK1266 subsequently resumed its journey at 11.22am and is presently approximately one hour and a half into its voyage of just under four hours, according to Flight Aware data.
The aircraft is now travelling over northern Spain.
Ryanair, Manchester Airport and Greater Manchester Police have all been approached for comment.
