Drunken Passenger Attacks Police Officer on Ryanair Flight in Viral Onboard Scuffle

A bizarre confrontation on a Ryanair flight from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Palma de Mallorca turned violent after crew and security tried to remove a drunk passenger from the plane. The incident, which took place on February 25, 2024, was recorded by passenger Richie Denholm and spread quickly online.

According to eyewitness accounts, a man and a woman seated near the front of the aircraft appeared drunk before takeoff. Denholm said the dispute began as a domestic argument and escalated from there. He said the crew tried to manage the situation until landing, but once law enforcement officers came aboard, the conflict flared up again.

Video from the scene shows police boarding the plane and attempting to escort the passenger off. A physical struggle follows, and at one point the passenger is seen hitting an officer in the face. Several officers then restrain him, and one appears to strike him with a police baton. Shocked passengers watched the brawl unfold, with some describing fear and helplessness.

Denholm called for tougher action against intoxicated passengers, saying, “They should not be allowed on a plane at all,” and warned that such behavior poses a real danger to passengers and crew. Ryanair had not issued an official response when the report was published.