Shocking footage from a seven-hour flight from Newcastle to Dubai shows the moment an allegedly drunk passenger was restrained by Emirates staff and fellow passengers
An “unruly” Emirates passenger was forcibly restrained onboard a long-haul flight to Dubai after they allegedly had “too much to drink”, with footage capturing the moment they were pinned down by fellow passengers.
The video, filmed on February 27, 2023, shows the unnamed man being restrained by several passengers and flight attendants during the seven-hour flight from Newcastle. India Sherwin, 20 – a fellow passenger who filmed the clip – claimed the man was “intoxicated” and became “increasingly loud and disruptive” during the flight.
She added flight attendants had refused to serve him any more alcohol around four hours into the plane journey, after which she said the unnamed passenger became more “aggressive”.
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India’s footage captures chaos onboard the flight, with passengers seen rushing down the plane’s aisles before swarming around a seat in the back of the cabin. Ms Sherwin claimed the chaos began when the man called a flight attendant a “stupid b*tch” before provoking a nearby passenger, saying he would “wipe the smile” off their face.
She claimed other passengers stepped in to help, adding the man was “bought to the floor” and continued to “shout and swear” as he was “restrained” by cabin staff using cable ties.
Ms Sherwin, from Newcastle, said: “It was a frightening and surreal experience, especially in such a confined space thousands of feet in the air. For the most part, everything seemed completely normal and peaceful. I began to notice a male passenger who had clearly had too much to drink.
“At one point, I saw a flight attendant refuse to serve him any more alcohol, explaining that he was already intoxicated. That’s when things turned aggressive.
“He began shouting and verbally abusing the crew, calling the flight attendant a ‘stupid bitch’. Even after being restrained, the man continued shouting, swearing, and making a scene. It was a frightening and surreal experience, especially in such a confined space thousands of feet in the air.
“The crew handled it very well under pressure, and I was proud of how quickly and bravely my dad and the other passenger acted to protect those around them.”
Ms Sherwin claimed one nearby passenger even commented “you’re giving us Geordies a bad name” after the distressing spectacle. She added the man was escorted off the plane by local police after the flight touched down in Dubai, with Emirates confirming he was “handed over to local authorities”.
An Emirates spokesperson said: “Emirates can confirm that on 27 February 2023 there was an unruly passenger travelling on flight EK036 from Newcastle to Dubai.
“The passenger was restrained by cabin crew and upon arrival, was handed over to the local authorities. The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance and will not be compromised.”