Passengers travelling with easyJet faced a significant delay as they were forced to evacuate a plane at Manchester Airport due to a police incident. The incident occurred on Friday, October 4, when a man was arrested for allegedly boarding the plane bound for Milan with improper documentation. The passengers were shocked as police entered the aircraft while it was taxiing on the tarmac, leading to everyone having to disembark the plane.
The easyJet flight, scheduled to depart for Milan Malpensa from Terminal 1, had its departure time pushed back from 6.23pm to 11.10pm, causing extensive delays. Despite the disruption, the Airbus aircraft eventually arrived in Milan at around 2am on Saturday, over four and a half hours later than planned. Passengers described how the police conducted a thorough search of the plane, prompting a rescreening of everyone onboard.
Fortunately, authorities confirmed that no suspicious items were found during the search, and they are not treating the incident as terrorism-related. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police stated that a man in his 20s was arrested for allegedly stowing away on the aircraft without consent and causing public nuisance. The individual remains in police custody as investigations continue.
In response to the incident, easyJet issued an apology on their website, attributing the delay to a “passenger incident”. Manchester Airport confirmed that all security protocols were followed, with the situation now being handled by the police. Despite the unexpected turn of events, passengers were reassured that their safety was of paramount importance throughout the ordeal.
The airline further expressed regret for any inconvenience caused and offered their apologies to affected passengers. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges airlines face in ensuring the safety and security of passengers amid evolving travel conditions. The cooperation between airport authorities, law enforcement, and airline staff highlights the importance of swift and effective responses to maintain passenger safety and operational integrity.
As travellers increasingly rely on air transport for their journeys, incidents like these underscore the need for robust security measures and proactive risk management strategies to address emerging threats and ensure a safe and efficient travel experience for all passengers.