Passenger attempts to open airplane door at 35000 feet

A jet carrying over 250 holidaymakers was forced to make an unscheduled landing after one of the passengers tried to open a door when the plane was flying at an altitude of 35,000 feet, it was reported yesterday by the airline. Passengers reported that the man involved had been drinking and was abusive before he made a lunge for the plane’s door.

The First Choice flight, on a Boeing 767, had 11 crew members and 257 passengers on board. The flight originated at Gatwick Airport and was headed to Cuba. Due to the incident, the pilot was forced to land in Bermuda, where the disruptive passenger was taken away by airport officials. He apparently was with a group of seven or eight other passengers and had become abusive to another passenger on the plane.

The captain asked the passengers to remain calm and the crew tried to calm him down, but as they were attempting to do so, he grabbed for the handle of the door.

A spokesperson for First Choice said: “The safety of all our customers and crew is our number-one priority and First Choice Airways operates a zero tolerance policy in regard to abusive or drunken behaviour on our flights. On landing in Bermuda the disruptive passenger was met by airport officials and placed in their custody.”

All passengers on the flight were accommodated overnight in Bermuda before continuing on their way to Cuba the following day.

www.firstchoice.co.uk