A holidaymaker has told how his plane was diverted due to a 'drunk' couple smoking in the toilet during a 'flight from hell'. Hans Mahrla was onboard an easyjet flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Tenerife for his first holiday away since the beginning of the pandemic, when it was diverted to Lisbon in Portugal after a couple got drunk, smoked and abused fellow passengers and members of staff.
Mr Mahrla, from Ormskirk, told the Liverpool Echo described the couple's behaviour as 'shameful'. The 49-year-old said everything on the flight seemed to be going fine and the pilot announced they were ahead of schedule.
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But he added a couple sitting a number of rows behind started acting rowdily after purchasing and drinking a large quantity of alcohol from duty free. They also allegedly smoked in the toilet.
Mr Mahrla said: "We were [having a] good time and then some time mid-flight a couple were obviously drinking too much. An announcement was made telling people they should not be drinking duty free stuff and smoking was also prohibited on the plane.
"Next thing we know they closed the toilets at the back of the plane because they found cigarette butts in there. Ten minutes later the pilot said we were landing in Lisbon - the woman started to kick off and threaten other passengers. There was quite a bit of commotion on the plane."
The couple were led off the plane but as the flight eventually went to leave an hour-and-a-half later another issue arose when a 'comatose' man tried to go to the toilet. The man was forced back by staff, but urinated all over his seat.
Mr Mahrla added it was 'pouring down the row behind him'. The man was looked after by his friends who stayed behind once the plane had landed.
Mr Mahrla said easyJet staff were 'brilliant and very professional' throughout the ordeal. Staff were very apologetic', but passengers 'all felt safe on the flight'.
The passengers reportedly clapped and cheered when they landed. Mr Mahrla said: "Everyone just wanted to enjoy the holiday - they didn't want to be held up like that. We were all happy to just land in Tenerife."
A spokesperson for easyJet said: "easyJet can confirm that flight EZY7169 from Liverpool to Tenerife on July 6 diverted to Lisbon and was met by police as a result of two passengers on board behaving disruptively. 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 abusive or threatening behaviour on board. The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is our highest priority."
Merseyside Police was also contacted but said responsibility for the passengers fell to the Portuguese authorities.
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