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A routine flight from Türkiye to Britain descended into chaos after witnesses said racist remarks triggered an intense midair brawl.
A Jet2 flight traveling from Antalya to Manchester diverted to Brussels after a violent midair brawl involving multiple passengers, prompting police intervention and lifetime bans for two individuals.
The incident occurred on flight LS896 on Thursday and unfolded roughly three hours into the five-hour journey, according to statements from the airline.
Authorities removed two passengers after the aircraft landed in Belgium, and the flight later continued to Manchester.
Jet2 described the incident as the “appalling behavior of two disruptive passengers” and said it would seek to recover costs related to the diversion.
“We will also vigorously pursue them to recover the costs that we incurred as a result of this diversion,” the airline said in a statement. “As a family-friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behavior.”
Videos of the altercation circulated widely on social media and showed passengers crowding the aisle, exchanging punches, and shouting while the cabin crew attempted to intervene.
Witness accounts and footage describe a confrontation that escalated rapidly inside the aircraft cabin.
According to an eyewitness cited in reports, the dispute began after one passenger allegedly made racist remarks toward nearby passengers. The situation intensified when the individual became aggressive after failing to purchase cigarettes on board.
A passenger said the individual was “confrontational, intimidating, and openly racist towards the Pakistani passengers around him,” adding that the atmosphere quickly turned chaotic.
The eyewitness described the experience as distressing.
“What should have been a straightforward journey turned into one of the most distressing experiences we’ve had,” the passenger wrote online.
Reports indicate the situation later became physical, with multiple passengers involved.
Video footage shows people shouting and fighting in the aisle while flight attendants attempted to restore order. In one clip, a crew member stood on a seat and urged passengers to stop.
Additional accounts say the altercation also followed an argument over loud music and attempts by one passenger to seize another person’s phone. Some passengers reported seeing blood on seats, while others described widespread fear among children, elderly travelers, and passengers with additional needs.
The pilot diverted the aircraft to Brussels, where police boarded the plane and removed two men.
A passenger later praised fellow travelers who challenged the alleged racist behavior and commended the cabin crew for handling what was described as a “volatile situation” with professionalism.
Jet2 confirmed that both passengers involved in the disturbance received lifetime bans from the airline.
The company also said it would seek compensation for costs related to the emergency landing.
The airline has previously taken similar measures. In past incidents, Jet2 banned and fined passengers whose behavior forced flight diversions, including a 2022 case in which two brothers were billed £50,000.
The incident reflects a broader rise in disruptive behavior on flights. According to data cited by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration recorded a 400 percent increase in midair outbursts between 2019 and 2025.
Behavioral experts say conditions inside aircraft cabins can intensify conflicts.
Prosecutor and behavioral expert Wendy Patrick said cramped spaces on modern airplanes can cause tensions to escalate quickly, and efforts by passengers or crew to calm disputes may sometimes worsen the situation, as reported by The New York Times.
Despite the disruption, the Jet2 flight later resumed its journey from Brussels and landed in Manchester later that evening.
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