Irish passenger disrupts Ryanair flight to Gran Canaria, forcing emergency diversion

Mid-air incident leads to diversion at Lisbon as police remove unruly traveller

A Ryanair flight from Dublin to Gran Canaria was forced to divert on Saturday March 8 after an Irish passenger became violent mid-air.

Flight FR7126 was en route to the Spanish island when the disruption broke out, with passengers describing the incident as "very violent." The crew managed the situation before making the decision to land in Lisbon, where police were waiting to remove the unruly traveller.

A Ryanair spokesperson said, “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 safe and respectful environment, without unnecessary disruption. This is a matter for local police.”

The flight continued on to Gran Canaria without further incident. Passengers praised Ryanair staff for how they handled the situation, with many commending their professionalism and swift response. Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, has previously called for a two-drink limit in airports to help prevent disruptive behaviour on flights.

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