A RYANAIR flight from Bournemouth was diverted after a male passenger reportedly attempted to open the aircraft doors while they were in the air.
The September 4 flight, which was taking passengers from Bournemouth to Girona, had to make an 'emergency' diversion to Toulouse, after a 'huge brawl' started mid-air.
Passengers described the whole incident as 'pure chaos', adding that 'everyone was petrified' and that multiple people were having panic attacks on board.
One witness said: "The whole event was very traumatic."
It has been revealed that the man, who ended up being restrained, had attempted to open the emergency exit doors mid-air, according to witnesses.
READ MORE: Flight fright: Man restrained with seatbelt after brawl breaks out mid-air
One witness reported that the man had said "I want to go" before attempting to open the doors on either side.
This is when other passengers got involved and began to restrain him, as he reportedly spat and 'swung at' people.
"That’s when a huge brawl started with a lot more than one man trying to get him away from the doors, there was a big punch up and he then finally got taken down in the isle and was pinned to the floor where they then managed to get a seatbelt extender round his ankles to stop him kicking."
French media, La Dépêche, published a report outlining the 'eventful stopover', adding that thirteen French police officers were mobilized to subdue the man.
The report also included a photo of the man being taken off the aircraft by police.
"Il voulait ouvrir les portes en plein vol" : un vol Ryanair Bournemouth-Gérone dérouté en urgence à Toulouse pour débarquer un passager ivre https://t.co/COuRnQ9XWx
— La Dépêche 31 (@ladepeche31) September 5, 2025
Passengers reported the man appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
After managing to get the man away from the emergency exits, he was 'pinned to the floor', with seatbelt extenders being used to restrain his ankles.
Before their 'emergency landing' in Toulouse, it was reported that a group had tried to keep him in a seat, but he tried to 'headbutt' an elderly man who was in the seat next to him.
A spokesperson for Ryanair said: “This flight from Bournemouth to Girona (4 Sept) diverted to Toulouse after a passenger became disruptive onboard. Crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon landing at Toulouse Airport and offloaded the individual passenger before this flight continued to Girona.
"Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a respectful and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption.”
"This is now a matter for local police.”
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