This was the moment a man was hauled off a plane at Manchester Airport after flight attendants noticed him smoking in the cabin toilets. Passengers on the Ryanair flight RK3442 from Palma to Manchester yesterday (May 30) watched on as the man was greeted by police after the flight touched down.
Wearing a grey t-shirt, shorts, a baseball cap and flip flops, the passenger can be seen carrying a plastic bag as he is escorted to the ground by two Greater Manchester Police officers. Cabin crew then informed other passengers they were free to leave the aircraft.
A dad who was on board the flight described the moment the man was 'named and shamed' in front of the entire plane. He told the Manchester Evening News: "It was literally about 20 minutes after take-off.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
"One of the flight attendants could smell smoke coming from the toilet. They took all his details and then announced it to the whole plane.
"I was really pleased because they'd named and shamed the person. If you're willing to have a smoke and put 180 souls on board lives at risk, then you should be named and shamed."
He added that the man allegedly smoking looked 'relatively calm' but that the rest of the flight had been left 'on edge'. "There were a few people not happy on that plane, I'll tell you," he said, adding that there were a number of families on the aircraft.
"I was with my two daughters who are seven and ten," he said. "They were pretty frightened."
The passenger added that Ryanair's cabin crew were 'fantastic' in how they handled the incident. A spokesperson for Ryanair said: "The crew of this flight from Palma to Manchester (May 30) called ahead for police assistance after a passenger was found smoking onboard.
"The passenger was removed from the aircraft by local police upon landing at Manchester Airport." It's understood the passenger was not arrested as Ryanair did not pursue prosecution.
READ NEXT:
Manchester park announces major change for visitors starting next month
Amazon worker strangles partner in bed - then contacts police to confess
Man's chilling Snapchat warning to woman after stabbing three men with Rambo knife
College reveals 'exciting' £27m revamp - including proposals for 63 family homes
