Passengers wrestle man to ground on easyJet flight
British holidaymakers helped the crew of an easyJet flight from Gatwick to restrain a fellow passenger after he allegedly began trying to open the emergency exit door in mid-flight.
The man, who was in his 30s, was wrestled to the ground then forced into a seat where he was ‘boxed in’ by other passengers until the flight landed safely in Pisa, Italy.
Businessman Richard Conyard told The Sun that the man had entered the toilet, looking a little nervous and wearing a heavy coat. When he emerged, he went to the emergency exit and tried to open the door, claimed Conyard.
After one of the crew tried to stop him, two or three other passengers rushed to help and bundled the man into a seat.
On landing, all passengers were forced to wait onboard until the police arrived.
In a statement, easyJet confirmed that the captain of Flight EZY8233 had asked police to meet the aircraft owing to the ‘disruptive behaviour of a passenger onboard during the descent’.
Pisa Airport police said a man in his 30s from Siena, Italy had been questioned in connection with the incident.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11