Rowdy passengers put flights at risk in two incidents to Spain

A Eurowings flight from Hamburg to Malaga was forced to divert to Madrid Barajas Airport, less than an hour from its planned destination, after reports of “several disruptive passengers” on board, which has added to a growing number of incidents on flights to popular tourist destinations like the Costa del Sol this summer. The aircraft’s crew requested police assistance upon landing, according to a post by Controladores Aereos on X.

Madrid’s control tower granted the flight priority descent and landing on runway 18R, whilst coordinating with the Guardia Civil to have officers on the tarmac present upon arrival. The disruptive passengers were removed from the aircraft, allowing the flight to resume its journey to Malaga Costa del Sol airport with a delay caused by the incident. Such disturbances on flights to major tourist hubs are becoming increasingly common, which is raising concerns about passenger behaviour in the aviation sector.

In a similar incident several hours later from Dublin to Tenerife South, another flight with conflictive passengers requested police presence on landing due to more conflictive passengers. Aer Lingus EIN76K, needed to call in police at the island airport in order to remove passengers. But, at least, they made their destination.

Juan P on X said, “Well, that they continue to sell alcohol without limit on flights. Someday we will have something unfortunate happen.” The nature of the disturbances have yet to be confirmed, and probably will not be until after a trial several months down the line. However, it seems, everyone is thinking along the same lines. “Conflicting meaning drunk as a skunk? Sometimes they let them board that drunk.”