This is the moment a desperate easyJet captain implored a topless passenger to sit down and wait for police after forcing a landing in Athens over the disruption.
Video showed how the troublemaker, allegedly under influence of alcohol, argued with fellow travellers before being hauled off Tuesday’s flight from Turkey to London Gatwick.
Cabin crew and another passenger can be seen trying to de-escalate the situation, as shouts of protest are heard in the background.
‘To the people who are fighting, the police are waiting for us at the gate. You are only making things worse for yourself. Please sit down,’ the captain says over the speaker.
Passengers are visibility annoyed by the unnecessary delay, one woman calling out to the man: ‘You’ve f****d us all up you silly c**t. You’ve f****d us all up.’
Staff separate two men as they clash on the flight returning to London Gatwick on Tuesday
Another passenger wearing a black t-shirt and headphones appears to try and de-escalate
A man is redressed as another passenger intervenes to de-escalate the situation
Staff are seen trying to dress the man as he shuffles down the aisle towards down towards another passenger meeting him in the middle.
Another passenger wearing a black t-shirt and headphones appears to try and de-escalate the situation.
Staff also try to guide the topless man backwards, pointing along the aisle.
But as the captain issues his warning to calm down, the man shunts forward down the aisle to more abuse from his adversary in a white jacket.
The man in white appears to sarcastically applaud the captain’s voice-over before being shepherded back to his seat by another steward.
Passengers are clearly frustrated by this point, shouting out at those causing the delays.
A caption overlaid on the original TikTok video reads: ‘Flight back from Turkey gets diverted to Athens because boys can’t handle their drink.’
In the background, the woman shouts out again: ‘You’re a bully.’
The topless man eventually gives in and sheepishly walks towards the back of the plane with the steward.
The clip was shared to social media yesterday with the caption: ‘Flying back to Gatwick from Antalya, plane gets diverted to Athens because of the topless guy.
‘The other guy gets involved and ends up getting booted off as well. Big shout out to the flight attendants, who did amazing.’
Viewers weighed in with their own experiences and irritations.
One wrote: ‘Hope easyJet billed them thousands for the diversion for all the money they lost.’
A second commented: ‘It’s only going to be a matter of time before they ban drinking because of melts like these who can’t take their drink. Jail them and they may think twice.’
Another said: ‘The airlines should have a lifetime ban. Once you [have] done that with Ryanair and easyJet, you have a lot fewer options when going on holiday.’
A fourth added: ‘Why do Brits revolve their life around drink, drink, drink? This is what ends up happening. I’m not generalising but this is why alcohol is not the way.’
Passengers are clearly frustrated by this point, shouting out at those causing the delays
The topless man eventually gives in and sheepishly walks towards the back of the plane
Another joked: ‘Imagine getting gentle parented by the pilot on the way back from your holidays.’
A spokesperson for easyJet said: ‘Flight EZY8558 from Antalya to London Gatwick on 1 October diverted to Athens and was met by police after landing due to two passengers behaving disruptively onboard.
‘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 disruptive behaviour onboard.
‘The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.’