- An easyJet flight returned to Tenerife South after a passenger brawl broke out thirty minutes into the journey.
- Police removed eight British nationals, including two adults and six minors, before the aircraft resumed its trip.
- The flight arrived in Liverpool nearly two hours late following the disruption involving approximately ten people.
A fight involving roughly 10 passengers forced an easyJet flight from Tenerife South to Liverpool to turn back about 30 minutes after departure on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Police met the aircraft after it landed, and eight people were removed before the service continued to its destination.
The Airbus A320-214, operating as flight EZY3352, carried 186 passengers. Air traffic controllers said the captain ordered the return because the disturbance posed a danger to the flight’s safety.
The aircraft left shortly before 8 p.m. local time. Flight-tracking data showed it returned at about 9:05 p.m., after the crew requested police at the airport.
Free toolB1/B2 Tourist Visa Stay Calculator onlineThe journey eventually ended in Liverpool at 2:19 a.m. Wednesday, roughly one hour and 54 minutes behind schedule. The 178 passengers who remained on board faced the delay after the mid-air confrontation.
Spanish air traffic controllers said the group began fighting during the flight. Their statement described the crew’s request for assistance and praised crews and passengers dealing with disruptive incidents.
“The crew of the flight from Tenerife South to Liverpool informed us, after about 30 minutes in the air, that they needed to return to the airport and requested a police presence upon arrival. A group of around 10 passengers had started a fight on board, and the captain decided to turn back because of the danger this posed to the safety of the flight.”
The account from controllers differed in tone from the airline’s statement. The carrier referred to disruptive behavior rather than describing the incident as a brawl.
Police removed two adults and six minors after the return
Spanish Civil Guard officers met the aircraft on the tarmac and identified eight people, all reported to be British nationals. The group included two adults and six minors.
No arrests followed. Officers took the passengers’ details after removing them from the aircraft.
A Civil Guard briefing confirmed the action in a single sentence:
“Eight people—two adults and six minors—were removed from the aircraft.”
The disturbance may have started before the aircraft left the island. One Spanish Civil Guard officer said two families had argued in the terminal before boarding, with the dispute continuing after takeoff.
“What appears to have happened is that a heated discussion started in the airport terminal between two families before they boarded the plane and those problems obviously continued on the plane which is why it turned back.”
A relative of one passenger offered a different account on social media, writing: “A family with kids got escorted off the plane. No fighting at all.” The claim characterized the incident as a verbal confrontation rather than a physical fight.
The captain nevertheless treated the situation as a safety concern. The return allowed officers to meet the aircraft on the ground rather than addressing the group after arrival in Britain.
| Flight detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Flight | EZY3352 |
| Aircraft | Airbus A320-214 |
| Passengers | 186 |
| Departure | Shortly before 8 p.m. local time |
| Return landing | About 9:05 p.m. local time |
| Final arrival | 2:19 a.m. Wednesday |
| People removed | Eight, including two adults and six minors |
The carrier said its cabin and ground staff acted according to established safety procedures. It also said it would not accept behavior directed at employees.
“Flight EZY3352 from Tenerife to Liverpool yesterday returned to the airport and was met by police due to a group of passengers behaving disruptively. The flight then continued to its final destination.”
The airline added: “Our cabin and ground crew are trained to assess all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time. We take these incidents very seriously and do not tolerate disruptive behaviour towards our staff.”
The incident adds pressure for tougher action against unruly passengers
Data shared in 2026 indicated that reports of disruptive behavior on aircraft, including physical violence and verbal abuse, had nearly tripled from pre-2020 levels. The Tenerife episode involved a group large enough to trigger a return to the departure airport rather than a routine continuation.
The removed passengers could face fines and civil penalties under Spanish aviation safety laws. Authorities did not announce immediate arrests or penalties in the statements described here.
Airlines have also backed a proposed UK government system for sharing information about disruptive passengers. The Department for Transport and the Home Office developed the proposal, which would create a national no-fly list and allow airlines to share data on unruly individuals.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said airlines had a “zero-tolerance approach” and welcomed government support for a centralized database so that “a tiny minority of passengers cannot disrupt air travel for the majority.”
Kenton Jarvis, easyJet’s chief executive, has said that “global events may affect travellers' confidence.” He has described stable, safe flight schedules as a “central pillar” of the airline’s 2026 strategy.
The aircraft continued after police dealt with the passengers. Its final arrival came at 2:19 a.m. Wednesday, nearly two hours later than the schedule indicated.
