A flight departed from Dublin bound for Gran Canaria and was diverted to Santiago de Compostela Airport in Galicia after a pair of passengers, described as being in a state of blatant intoxication, caused discomfort onboard. The Dublin-originated service had to abandon its initial route over Galicia’s mountainous terrain to allow for a controlled landing.
Local police in Galicia reported that the two Irish nationals left the aircraft after being asked to reboard during an unplanned landing in Santiago-Rosalía de Castro airport on Saturday.
A spokesperson for the Civil Guard confirmed that officers were requested to board the Aer Lingus flight following its arrival at the Santiago de Compostela facility on Saturday.
Aer Lingus has been contacted for comment but has not provided a response at the time of writing.
The Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency, AESA, the state authority charged with enforcing civil aviation rules, notes that penalties can reach up to 50,000 euros. Additionally, violators may be liable for the cost of any required referrals and could face a travel ban.
Flight orientation updates and radar information were available in the associated post-flight summary.
—
sexual assault allegation
A 42-year-old British tourist was arrested last Friday at Ibiza airport on suspicion of sexually assaulting a flight attendant and spitting at the cabin manager on a Jet2 service departing from Manchester. The airline indicated a lifetime ban would be imposed pending the outcome of police investigations.
Officials confirmed the passenger’s arrest and noted the airline would enforce a lifetime ban should the allegations be substantiated.
—
conflicted passengers doubled
Onboard tensions have grown as groups organize celebrations, disputes flare, and some travelers refuse to comply with crew directives. These scenarios, sometimes described as “overlapping passengers,” create challenging situations for cabin crews and have raised safety concerns across several carriers serving the Canary Islands. Recent figures from AESA show a marked rise in disruptive behavior over the archipelago.
When comparing January to July 2023 with the same period in 2019, reports of disruptive passenger incidents rose sharply, with a notable increase in the Canary Islands corridor. This trend has drawn attention to the need for clear passenger conduct policies and effective crew training to manage conflicts before they escalate.
Two National Police officers stationed at a Spanish airport were photographed during routine monitoring as part of broader efforts to deter disorderly conduct on flights. The ongoing focus from authorities emphasizes vigilance during peak travel periods.
AESA has issued warnings about a recent rise in complaints related to improper and contradictory passenger behavior on commercial air services. In 2020, the year COVID-19 disrupted air travel, incident levels dropped as flights over the Canary Islands decreased. A similar lull occurred in the first half of 2021. However, 2022 saw a significant uptick in incidents, driven in part by resistance to mask rules on board. The latest data point to a continued downward trend only when health measures were relaxed, underscoring how environmental and policy changes influence passenger behavior.