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Rabat – A Ryanair flight from Agadir-Massira, Morocco, to London-Stansted, UK, turned chaotic on Wednesday when a heated dispute over seating arrangements erupted into a violent altercation just minutes after takeoff.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as punches were thrown and tensions boiled over, prompting the pilot to make an emergency landing in Marrakech, according to reports.
The incident occurred when one passenger, reportedly in his late 20s, attempted to change seats to sit with his family.
Trouble began when a woman refused his request, triggering a confrontation that quickly escalated into physical violence.
Witnesses recounted how threats were exchanged and punches were thrown, causing widespread panic and one individual to fall ill amidst the commotion.
“As soon as the seatbelt sign turned off, things just exploded,” one passenger told reporters. “It started with one argument but then it spread. People were shouting, children were crying—it was chaos.”
Viral footage captured passengers pushing each other in the aisle as crew members struggled to maintain order.
With the situation spiraling out of control, the pilot decided to divert the aircraft to Marrakech, where local police boarded and removed the passengers involved.
“The crew called for medical assistance and police support upon landing,” a Ryanair spokesperson explained. “Those involved in the altercation were escorted off the plane by local authorities, while the rest of the passengers waited anxiously on board.”
Despite efforts to minimize the disruption, the ordeal caused significant delays and inconvenience for the remaining travelers.
Initially provided with overnight accommodations in Marrakech, passengers faced further setbacks when their rescheduled flight the next morning was canceled, delaying their arrival at Stansted, London until late Thursday night.
Ryanair has issued an official apology, attributing the disruption to a “small group of disruptive passengers” and stressing that the safety and well-being of all passengers remains their top priority.
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