EasyJet flight EZY8556, en route from Antalya, Turkey, to London Gatwick, was diverted to Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport in Italy on Friday evening following what the airline described as a “passenger incident.” The unscheduled stop left passengers facing delays and an overnight stay while arrangements were made for their onward journey.
Aggressive Passenger Sparks Emergency Landing
According to an account from a passenger on board, the incident involved an “unstable passenger” who displayed aggressive behavior toward fellow travelers and crew. The captain, prioritising safety, made the decision to divert the flight to Bari, where the situation could be addressed.
“On a flight from Antalya to London Gatwick, one unstable passenger decided to be aggressive toward passengers and crew. Therefore, the captain decided to divert the flight to Bari in Italy,” the passenger recounted.
Upon landing, the disruptive individual was removed from the aircraft, and Italian authorities were involved in handling the matter. EasyJet has not disclosed further details about the incident or the actions taken following the diversion.
Overnight Stay and Rescheduled Flight
The diversion caused significant disruption for the passengers, who faced an extended wait in Bari. EasyJet arranged accommodation for those stranded overnight and confirmed plans for an alternative flight to London Gatwick. The replacement flight was scheduled to depart from Bari on Saturday evening at 7:35 p.m. local time, with an expected arrival at Gatwick at 9:20 p.m.
In an email communication to affected travelers, EasyJet advised passengers to liaise with ground staff for assistance and confirmed that arrangements for accommodation and onward travel were being made. The airline stated its commitment to minimizing inconvenience to its passengers while ensuring their safety.
EasyJet’s Response and Ongoing Investigation
“easyJet can confirm that flight EZY8556 from Antalya to London Gatwick last night diverted to Bari and was met by police due to a passenger behaving disruptively onboard.
“As this led to the crew reaching their safety regulated operating hours, the flight has been delayed overnight to operate later today and we arranged hotel accommodation and meals for customers.
“easyJet’s cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. Whilst such incidents are rare, we take them very seriously and do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard.
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet’s priority.”
A spokesman from the airport told Sussex News “The flight in question landed in Bari due to the attitude of a passenger for whom I cannot provide you data.
All passengers were disembarked and assisted. They were transferred to the hotel awaiting the departure of the flight scheduled for today at 18.00 (LT) as the crew had exceeded the service hour limit.”
