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Home / News / Announcements / Abusive and Threatening Passenger Causes Divert
Published: Fri 08 Jul 2016 at 13:13
Updated: Fri 08 Jul 2016 at 14:05
- Jet2.com offloads Liam McKeown in Toulouse following violent outburst onboard
- Airline bans him for life and will vigorously pursue to recover costs
Leading leisure airline, Jet2.com, was forced to divert a flight to Toulouse yesterday due to the aggressive and threatening actions of passenger Liam McKeown.
During the flight the 25 year old, part of a group heading to Ibiza from Glasgow Airport, started being verbally offensive towards a cabin crew member after she caught him consuming his own, illicit alcohol. His behaviour became so aggressive that an off duty police officer bravely stepped in to try to get him to calm down. Instead McKeown displayed even more abusive behaviour including hitting out at the overhead lockers and making physical threats towards crew.
At this stage the captain made the immediate decision to divert to Toulouse to protect the safety and wellbeing of the other customers on board, many of whom were families. French police had to board the aircraft to remove McKeown, during which he attempted to head butt the officers.
Jet2.com has issued him with a lifetime ban and will vigorously pursue to recover the costs incurred by this divert.
Phil Ward, managing director of Jet2.com, said: “We will not tolerate anyone who is verbally abusive and threatening on our aircraft. Liam McKeown showed absolutely no respect towards our cabin crew or fellow passengers. His actions were frankly deplorable and I’d like to thank the police officer on board who bravely stepped in to try to diffuse the situation and support our crew. He will now have to face up to the consequences of his actions.”
"On Friday 8 July Police Scotland has received a complaint regarding the behaviour of a passenger on board a Jet2.com flight from Glasgow to Ibiza on Thursday 7 July 2016. As a result of his behaviour, the plane was diverted to Toulouse in France and the passenger ejected. Enquiries are continuing", read a police statement.
Jet2.com’s ‘Onboard Together’ initiative commits the airline to a zero tolerance stance against disruptive passenger behaviour. So far more than 500 passengers have been refused travel and 60 of these have been given lifetime bans.
