drunk

THIS is the moment a passenger is dragged off a Ryanair plane after sparking a bloody brawl.

He reportedly attempted to yank open the emergency door mid-air during the flight from Bournemouth to Girona, Spain, on Thursday.

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The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Toulouse, France, so the troublemaker could be booted off.

Footage from the runway in Toulouse shows four cops carrying the bloke, who is lying limp and handcuffed in their arms.

They dump him down onto the tarmac as others stand guard.

The man – seen in a white t-shirt and orange shorts – apparently burst out with: “I want to go,” before making a beeline for the plane’s door.

Other passengers – realising he was intent on opening the hatch – jumped to stop him and a scrap followed.

The unidentified man allegedly spat and threw punches at fellow passengers before he was pinned to the floor.

A seatbelt was even bound around his legs to immobilise the troublemaker.

After being plonked back into a seat, he is said to have aimed a headbutt at a pensioner sitting next to him.

Other passengers broke down in tears and even suffered panic attacks in the face of his aggression.

One witness said: “The whole event was very traumatic.

“The man had gone into the toilet and then afterwards was trying opening one of the emergency exit doors.

“He then went to try the other shouting ‘I want to go.’

“That’s when a huge brawl started with a lot more than one man trying to get him away from the doors.

“There was a big punch up and he then finally got taken down in the isle and was pinned to the floor where they then managed to get a seatbelt extender round his ankles to stop him kicking.”

Fellow passenger David Malone said: “They started brawling in the middle of the plane.

“It went on for about 30 minutes and one guy was completely off his head, it took about three people to restrain him.

“It was horrible, there was blood everywhere there were people screaming and crying.

“It was horrible, disgusting really. It made you ashamed to be British to be honest.

“It’s sad really, I felt sorry for the staff. Something needs to be done about the amount of alcohol they allow people to consume at the airport.”

It’s understood the man had been fighting with another person in his group before heading for the doors.

After the man had been removed, the plane continued on to Girona, landing around two hours behind schedule.

A spokesperson for Ryanair said: “This flight from Bournemouth to Girona (4 Sept) was diverted to Toulouse after a passenger became disruptive onboard.

“Crew called ahead for police assistance, who met the aircraft upon landing at Toulouse Airport and offloaded this passenger before this flight continued to Girona.

“Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a respectful and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption.”

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ON ‘P***head Corner’, a group of worse-for-wear locals tuck into cans of cheap beer while commuters hurry past on their way to work.

Charity shops, boarded up stores and nail salons dominate the high street, while drug deals take place in broad daylight and drunks brazenly swig from bottles of spirits. 

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Yet this scene of deprivation is just yards from the picturesque seafront of South Shields, with a stunning stretch of golden sands and a recently regenerated promenade.

This weekend 60,000 athletes will cross the finish line of the Great North Run, running a mile along the coastline at Sandhaven Beach, after competing the gruelling race from Newcastle. 

But beyond the funfair, restaurants and elegant Victorian park close to sands, the rundown streets tell a story of years of neglect and residents speak of a dark underbelly of crime, alcoholism and drug taking. 

Steven Smith was once a successful painter and decorator but is now a self-confessed alcoholic desperately trying to get sober. 

We speak to him at the town’s transport interchange, dubbed “P***head Corner” due to its popularity among drinkers.

The 42-year-old said: “Having the Great North Run is all well and good but the crime rate is diabolical.

“I got beat up just last night. It was for no reason at all. I was walking through the row of shops in the centre and I ended up in hospital. I woke up there. 

“There were three lads and they jumped me for nothing. They were probably trying to steal from me but it knocked me out.

“I’m walking and talking and that’s the main thing, but it’s not nice. They did it because they are a***holes, and it didn’t surprise me to be honest. 

“South Shields is getting worse for it. The town was given some money a while ago but it hasn’t been spent wisely.

“I don’t take drugs but I’m an alcoholic trying to ween myself off.

“The other day I walked around the corner and saw someone smoking a crack pipe in front of kids.”

Steven believes the town’s younger population are at risk of falling into the same trap.

The other day I walked around the corner and saw someone smoking a crack pipe in front of kids

Steven Smith

He added: “I had some kids ask me last week to go in the shop for them to buy drink. They couldn’t have been older than 13 or 14.

“I told them I wasn’t going to do it. I don’t want to encourage anyone to drink. It ruins lives.”

Addiction crisis

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Damning data from the Office of National Statistics speaks of an alcohol crisis engulfing the town and the surrounding area. 

Across 2022 to 2023, 777 per 100,000 people in South Tyneside were admitted to hospital for an alcohol-related reason. The figure was sky high compared to the rate of 475 across England as a whole. 

During the same time period, 62 per 100,000 under 18s were admitted as a result of consuming booze, while the England rate stood at just 26.

The number of people suffering from alcoholic liver disease in South Tyneside was also nearly double the national rate. There were 304 per 100,000 in the region, compared to 156 in England.

By mid-morning, groups of men and women eagerly waited outside the town’s pubs ahead of opening time. 

Meanwhile, a gaunt couple were handed a package by a furtive-looking man before rushing from the bustle of the interchange. 

People are always on drugs giving you abuse when you walk past. Even if you have a child with you, they do it all the time.

Ex-McDonald’s worker Chloe Mycock

Ex-McDonald’s worker Chloe Mycock used to dread taking breaks during shifts at the nearby fast food restaurant due to unsavoury characters loitering outside.

Chloe, now 21, said: “Alcoholism is a major issue. People are always on drugs giving you abuse when you walk past.

“Even if you have a child with you, they do it all the time. Groups of kids go through the bus station on bikes and they will harass you without a care.

“One hundred per cent it makes me wary of going outside on my own.

“I used to work at McDonald’s and I would come and sit outside on my breaks to get some fresh air. But there would be crowds of people outside and it made me feel unsafe.

“This was during the day so I definitely would not feel safe coming out at night-time.

“I think a lot of these people come from certain parts on the outskirts of the town and they congregate together in the centre.”

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Retired police officer Dave Binding, 81, added: “The place is dirty, although it is the same as anywhere else these days.

“People used to come home after work, get changed, and go for a night out.

“But now they might have a quick drink and then go home and stay there, perhaps due to fear of walking the streets.

“There are places around here that are no-go areas, which common sense dictates you stay away from.

People used to come home after work, get changed, and go for a night out. But now they might have a quick drink and then go home and stay there, perhaps due to fear of walking the streets

Retired police officer Dave Binding

“But I ask, what more can you do? We have a country that we deserve now, not one that we want.

“I’m seeing the problem happen more often with drinks in South Shields. I feel sorry for the staff at A&E because it must be like a conveyer belt.

“They must tell each other ‘I saw him yesterday’ but what more can they do?

“This place suffers from the same rash – the same nail bars, the same barbers and second-hand shops.”

Child poverty

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A recent BBC study ranked a third of the neighbourhoods in South Tyneside among the most deprived in the country.

The child poverty crisis was deemed so severe the council recently announced a four-point plan in a desperate bid to reduce levels.

In 2020 to 2021, around 39 per cent of children in the South Tyneside area were living in poverty according to council data.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators will flock to the town to watch the competitors finish the 42nd Great North Run, which was founded in 1981, when just 12K took part. 

The event was masterminded by former Olympic medallist Brendan Foster who wanted to create a fun run in his home region. Mo Farah dubbed the 2013 race his favourite ever, despite not winning, due to the tremendous support from the sidelines. 

One woman, who didn’t want to be named, said: “The Great North Run is great for the area but people only ever see the nicer part of South Shields at the coast when it’s on TV.

“I don’t think the people who come here for the run will to rush to return.

“People used to come to this area to live but now they try and get out because there’s nothing here.

“Kids these days hang around on their bikes outside of McDonald’s and people don’t feel safe.

I don’t venture out in the town when it’s dark because people are up to no good on their bikes

Anonymous

“Child poverty is definitely an issue in the town. A lot of the younger generation don’t go on to higher education.

“If they’re not lucky enough to grow up in a nicer area, they often get stuck in a poverty cycle.

“There aren’t many jobs and people have to travel elsewhere.

“The foodbank in nearby Hebburn gets really busy.

“I don’t venture out in the town when it’s dark because people are up to no good on their bikes.”

Intoxicated groups

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Sarah Wytcherley, a 40-year-old warehouse worker, said: “Crowds of intoxicated people gather in the town all of the time.

“They sit outside the bus interchange and that’s not what people want to see when they’re visiting the town for the first time.

“It has always been a problem with Shields as far as I’m aware. It doesn’t look very nice.”

One worker at the interchange believes police have been making an effort to move on the hoards of drunks.

He said: “It has been bad. It is has gone downhill as a whole. You see them spiced out of their heads and it puts fear into people.

“There was an incident not long ago where a kid on a bike hurt a disabled guy. It doesn’t look good for town at all.”

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Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council told The Sun: “The Great North Run showcases the beauty and spirit of our borough.

“But behind the scenes, we’re working every day to make sure that spirit is felt in every neighbourhood – tackling inequality, improving safety, and creating opportunity for all.

“We’ve never shied away from the challenges some of our communities face and we have worked hard to tackle them head on, targeting our support to make things fairer across the borough and redress inequalities.

“We know that issues like child poverty and alcohol-related harm have a real impact on people’s lives, and that’s why we’ve taken bold, proactive steps to address them.

“We’ve launched the North East’s first Child Poverty Strategy, bringing together partners across the region to take coordinated action — from working closely with schools and providing baby boxes to new parents to helping parents with the costs of school uniforms, school meals and holiday activities.

“We’re also refreshing our Alcohol Strategy to confront the borough’s high rates of alcohol-related deaths. This includes improving access to support services, challenging cultural norms around drinking, and tackling health inequalities head-on.

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“To tackle long-term challenges, we’re investing in both our places and our people. Our regeneration plans go beyond the seafront — they’re about creating opportunity across the borough.

“The relocation of South Tyneside College into the town centre, backed by millions in external funding, will breathe new life into South Shields.

“Through the Community Regeneration Partnership, we’re also delivering real improvements in Hebburn, Jarrow and beyond. Programmes like South Tyneside Works and regional skills initiatives are helping residents access training and support.

“And by attracting major employers, we’re creating jobs and helping local people step into them.”

Superintendent Lisa Laverick, of Northumbria Police, said: “Alongside our partner organisations, we strive to make South Tyneside as safe as possible a place for people to live, work and visit.

“As a Force, we fully understand the detrimental impact that crime can have on the lives of residents and always aim to tackle these issues head on using a range of tactics.

“We carry out a number of proactive operations during each year, including Project Shield patrols which aim to reduce anti-social behaviour and serious violence incidents while also engaging with our communities to retain and build their trust in us.

“We also run the Safer Transport Northumbria initiative which allows commuters to raise any issues while using public transport with us, while our dedicated Metro Unit regularly patrols the Metro network to identify any criminality and take the appropriate action.

“This has helped us to achieve a 19 per cent fall in the number of recorded ASB incidents in South Tyneside in the past year, and our focus remains on improving this even further.

“Our teams do their utmost to build on our ever-growing intelligence picture so that we can target offenders and get them before the courts to face justice.

“As ever, we rely on the support and assistance of our community so please continue to work with us by providing information on crime or suspicious activity if you become aware of it in your neighbourhood.

“Together, we can keep South Tyneside the welcoming borough it is.”

Andras Rado, head of communications at Wizz Air, has opened up about the quiet checks boarding agents carry out when they spot a passenger who might’ve spent a little too long at the airport Spoons

Tipsy passengers are subject to a secret process to determine whether or not they should be allowed to fly.

Andras Rado, head of communications at Wizz Air, has opened up about the quiet checks boarding agents carry out when they spot a passenger who might’ve spent a little too long at the airport Spoons.

“We will be flying 75 million passengers this year, and so for sure we will have some issues. We have a procedure that is not known to passengers,” Andras told The Mirror.

“It is not a secret that we’re doing it—they just don’t know how we do it. The cabin crew screen passengers. They have certain criteria to watch, then they watch it. An example is how the passenger greets you back. Do they greet you back? There are signs that a person is already drunk.”

READ MORE: Wizz Air announces major change for passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations

If a passenger is judged to be too pickled, flight crews ask the captain whether they should be allowed to board. “The captain makes the final decision.”

When asked whether Wizz Air would support Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary’s calls to introduce a two-drink limit at airports, Andras said: “I don’t think you can control how many whiskies people drink at the airport. Onboard we can control. If we see they are intoxicated, we stop serving them.”

The PR man also noted that Wizz Air is less impacted by drunken, disorderly customers than some other airlines. “We don’t have any problems with passenger diversions. We don’t have the same issue. It’s a different demographic. If you look at our London Gatwick–Jeddah flights, I spoke to a crew member on Wednesday, and she said how respectful our passengers are.”

The Mirror also spoke with a former Wizz Air pilot about how the process of stopping drunk passengers from boarding typically unfolds.

“If they do not create trouble, sometimes it’s better to keep them drinking. Some passengers may become unruly if they want to drink. It doesn’t apply if they show up already drunk. It’s the captain’s call. I try to use common sense, but I never experienced any pressure from the company either way,” the pilot explained.

READ MORE: Heathrow Airport to demolish terminal and boost passenger numbers by 10 millionREAD MORE: Wizz Air warns new law will increase prices and create ‘absolute zoo’ at airport

Addiction specialist Martin Preston, from private rehab clinic Delamere, has explained why the effects of alcohol kick-in quicker and often stronger when drinking onboard a plane.

“The reason for this is not because the alcohol content is higher in drinks on the plane, but that alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream more quickly, as a result of cabin pressure and lower levels of oxygen in your blood,” he said.

This means that consumers may feel more intoxicated than they normally would be if they were drinking on land. From sleep disruption to fainting, Martin has revealed what happens to the body when you drink on a plane – and they can really dampen those holiday highs.

Ben Crook’s post mortem revealed he had suffering horrendous injuries after ‘falling from height’

A dad tragically died after falling from a height whilst on holiday in Turkey, following his removal from a flight due to drunken behaviour and subsequent separation from his family. The devastating news of his death was only discovered when his father travelled to Turkey to investigate his whereabouts.

Ben Crook, 32, was reported missing after he jetted off to Antalya with his partner Jess Jenkins and their two children on September 23. After consuming alcohol and cocaine, he exhibited erratic behaviour on the flight, shouting at an air steward and smashing both his and Ms Jenkins’ mobiles, according to the inquest.

Upon landing in Turkey on September 24, Mr Crook, from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, was escorted off the plane and separated from Ms Jenkins. She was instructed to leave the airport and took a taxi to their hotel with the children.

The inquest at Gwent Coroner’s Court on Tuesday revealed that Mr Crook never made it to the hotel, reports Wales Online.

Following his son’s disappearance, Mr Crook’s father journeyed to Turkey and uncovered the tragic news that his son had died after falling from a height and sustaining fatal injuries.

A post mortem examination conducted at the Antalya Forensic Institute confirmed that Mr Crook had suffered external injuries and lacerations consistent with a fall. He passed away at Antalya Training and Research Hospital at 2.15am on September 25, the inquest heard.

READ MORE: Headless body washes up in Spain holiday hotspot having turned into ‘soap mummy’READ MORE: ‘Mystery’ man spotted with murdered Brit Campbell Scott on CCTV sparks Kenya manhunt

Following repatriation of Mr Crook’s body to the UK, a further post-mortem examination was performed at Grange University Hospital by Dr Majid Rashid on October 22, revealing that he had suffered severe head injuries, bruising on his upper limbs, cuts, and multiple abrasions to his abdominal wall. A chest incision suggested a tube had been inserted to drain fluid.

The examination also found a fractured skull vault, brain damage, and bleeding, as well as a fractured pelvis on both sides.

Toxicology reports showed the presence of cocaine, alcohol, ketamine, and cocaethylene in Mr Crook’s blood, with ketamine likely administered during treatment.

Dr Rashid determined the cause of death to be a fractured skull and pelvis due to blunt trauma from a fall.

In a statement read aloud in court by senior coroner Caroline Saunders, Ms Jenkins stated that Mr Crook had started drinking before arriving at the airport and purchased duty-free alcohol to consume at their hotel.

Due to a flight delay, the couple began drinking duty-free alcohol, with Ms Jenkins describing her partner as a “nervous flier” but mentioning they were “chatting and joking” before takeoff. During the flight, she revealed that Mr Crook’s demeanour altered and he started yelling at a male steward, demanding booze.

He subsequently smashed both his and Ms Jenkins’ mobiles, leading to him being escorted off the plane and separated from his partner.

Discussing Mr Crook’s substance abuse, Ms Jenkins stated her partner used cocaine recreationally, only indulging when he had been drinking.

Mr Crook’s sister Amy disclosed that her brother had struggled with drugs and alcohol, with his consumption escalating in the months preceding his death.

She also mentioned her brother’s mental health struggles, exacerbated by his drug and alcohol use, but Ms Crook insisted there were no signs he would take his own life, leaving his two children fatherless.

Upon returning from Turkey, Mr Crook’s father discovered a message in his Facebook Messenger spam folder, seemingly from his son, who was trying to ascertain the name of the hotel where his partner was staying. There was an additional message again requesting contact.

Members of Mr Crook’s family received communication from several unidentified individuals in Turkey who claimed they had seen the deceased prior to his death.

One individual who got in touch with Ms Jenkins claimed: “Hello, we have just seen your post about Ben being missing. We saw him on September 24 at lunchtime. He approached me and my husband for help while walking near Kaleici Harbour. He said he smashed up his phone and had brought a new one but it was not ringing for some reason. He used my phone to send a message to his friend and we gave him our number if he needed more help. He looked shaken and hungover. After the Facebook message and ringing his friend, he crossed the harbour and walked, we presumed, to the police station for help.”

Messages later followed from others, which included photographs apparently of Mr Crook lying on the ground at the base of a building.

There were suggestions he fell while smoking on 24 September, but there was no sign of third-party involvement.

Ms Saunders delivered her conclusion: “(Alcohol and drugs) may have caused disorientation and poor judgement but this is insufficient to determine he fell as a result of the drugs he had taken.”

She decided: “I find the fall was an accident, the exact details of which are unknown..”

Her final conclusion read: “On September 24, 2024, Ben Crook fell from height whilst on holiday in Turkey and sustained severe head and pelvic injuries and died on September 25, 2024. The conclusion I reach is that of an accident.”

AN EASYJET passenger was left petrified after a group of rowdy “drunk” Brits turned her Ibiza flight into a “nightclub”.

Furious Spaniard Erika Barrachina claimed she suffered a “panic attack” after the mid-air raucous where she had to cope with “scum” passengers.

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The Ibiza resident blasted that these type of tourists should never have been allowed to board the plane in the first place.

Shocking footage showed a packed plane with passengers appearing to bang on luggage compartments and yell: “Come on Ibiza!”

Multiple travellers appeared to be waving their arms and legs around while sat during the loud journey.

And some who seemingly found the whole situation hilarious decided to record the noisy chanting.

The Spanish local said that her “flight from London to Ibiza was absolutely horrible“.

The passenger said she was “scared” while travelling on the jet “full of real English animals”.

“Everyone standing, screaming, guys hitting each other, drinking bottles of alcohol one after the other and stopping the flight attendants from doing their job,” she added.

The appalled passenger called her experience: “Real hell.”

She said of the footage which she managed to record: “This video is the just the end because I couldn’t film what happened during the journey.”

Barrachina also claimed that Brit passengers were drunk and high before boarding.

She continued: “Taking pills and drinking alcohol at the same time, which I saw with my own eyes.

“It was a really wild 2.5 hour flight.”

The Spanish passenger raged: “This shouldn’t be allowed. They shouldn’t let scum like this get on a plane or sell alcohol on board.

“We don’t want this type of tourism in Ibiza, they should stay at home.”

She branded the uncontrollable Brits “wild animals”.

The Ibiza resident also told a local Ibizan newspaper: “I’m not afraid of flying because I’ve flown around the world but I had a panic attack because it was like being in a pub, in a nightclub, but in the air.”

She claimed that multiple air stewards asked some of the passengers for their documentation, only to be told: “F**k off.”

The “wild” passengers were let off the plane after reaching Ibiza airport and identifying themselves.

EasyJet told The Sun: “We can confirm that flight EZY2307 from Luton to Ibiza on May 16 was met by police on arrival due to a group of passengers behaving in a disruptive manner.

“The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always easyJet’s priority.

“Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously and do not tolerate disruptive behaviour onboard.”

Barrachina posted the footage on Saturday – one day before thousands of people marched in Canary Islands capitals as part of a new anti-mass tourism protest.

Locals in the Balearic Islands, which include Ibiza, are due to stage their protest on June 15.