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Rabat – Spanish authorities have announced that the Moroccan passenger who caused the emergency landing at Palma airport last Friday, was already arrested in Spain in 2020 for contempt of authority.
The passenger, a Moroccan man who had to be treated for an alleged diabetic coma, is one of the 12 passengers arrested during the airplane emergency.
The Air Arabia flag carrier carrying the passengers, was traveling from Morocco to Turkey, but was forced to land at Palma airport around 7:00 p.m. Spanish time after one passenger showed symptoms of a serious diabetic crisis.
The man was immediately taken by ambulance alongside a companion to the Hospital of Son Llàtzer, in Palma. The other passengers escaped after the emergency landing, taking advantage of the confusion caused by the evacuation of the man who faked a diabetic coma.
Spanish Civil Guard officers started searching for the passengers and proceeded to close the airport.
According to Europa press, the passenger who caused the medical emergency was arrested at the Son Llàtzer Hospital, after having been discharged from the hospital. He is facing charges of conspiring to violate Spain’s immigration law and encouraging irregular immigration.
The rest of the detainees were arrested in Manacor Street, Palma and in the vicinity of Son Sant Joan airport.
Among those arrested is the passenger who left as a companion of the alleged patient while another passenger was arrested for contempt and assault against Spanish authority on the plane.
Europa Press noted that the detainees, who are scheduled to stand trial on Monday, November 8, will be charged with causing public disorder. It remains to be seen whether they will be charged with other crimes too.
Spanish police are investigating whether the incident was orchestrated through a Facebook group consisting of young Moroccans.
Aina Calvo, Government Delegate on the Spanish Balearic Islands, stressed on Saturday that “What happened on Friday night in Palma is an unprecedented event, which has not occurred previously in any Spanish airport point.”
