A holidaymaker was caught red-handed as they carried out a prohibited act on-board a plane. They were escorted away by the police after arriving in Tenerife from Manchester
A tourist has been arrested after they were caught carrying out an outragious act in front of dozens of travellers on-board a plane. The holidaymaker, who boarded the flight from Manchester, was expecting to jet-off to sunny Tenerife. But when they arrived, they were stopped by police following reports that the passenger had been smoking on the plane.
The pilot and flight staff alerted the police before they arrived at the island’s south airport today. According to reports, the aircraft was a Ryanair Boeing 737 flight.
Airlines make it clear that such a brazen act is prohibited on-board a plane. Luckily, the flight landed smoothly and without any concerns. However, once on the tarmac, police stormed the aircraft and located the passenger and arrested them.
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It is not known if the offender was male or female or British, though this nationality is assumed as they had flown from Manchester. Air Traffic Controllers flagged the incident on their Twitter account, with the incident further being reported by local media.
“Fortunately, the landing went smoothly but this type of situation highlights one of the risks faced by crews and passengers on commercial flights,” the Spanish press reported. Air traffic controllers have expressed “all their support for the passengers and crews who often have to endure these situations that put the safety of all the occupants of the aircraft at risk.”
Smoking on an airplane has been banned for decades, and international regulations are clear about it. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) established a ban on smoking on commercial flights due to the health risks to passengers and crew.
This measure was reinforced by the Chicago Convention of 1944 and by the regulations of the European Union and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States. In addition to the obvious health risk, smoking on board an airplane can also be a safety hazard.
Lighting a cigarette in an enclosed, pressurised environment increases the risk of fire, which is unacceptable in an aircraft. Airlines often have strict policies in place to sanction passengers who do not follow these rules, with fines or arrest upon arrival at the airport.
A spokesperson for Ryanair told The Mirror: “The crew of this flight from Manchester to Tenerife South (1 May) called ahead for police assistance after a passenger was found smoking onboard. The aircraft was met by local police upon arrival at Tenerife South Airport and this passenger was removed.”
“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 safe and respectful environment, without unnecessary disruption. This is a matter for local police.”
