Flight fright: Unruly passenger forces plane's return to Cracow
On Monday evening, a plane en route to Paris had to turn back to the airport in Balice Airport, Cracow. An altercation broke out on board, initiated by an aggressive 34-year-old passenger who threatened to detonate an explosive device. The pilot had to respond to the situation and decided to return to Krakow. There, the aggressive passenger was apprehended by authorities.
9:12 AM EDT, October 15, 2024
On Monday evening, the duty service at the SG facility in Krakow-Balice was informed by the duty officer at Krakow-Balice International Airport that the captain of a scheduled flight to Paris had requested intervention due to a disturbance on board.
“A 34-year-old Pole attacked another passenger right after takeoff, punched the window and seats, and threatened to blow up the plane,” says Justyna Drożdż from the press service of the Carpathian Branch of the SG to Wirtualna Polska. She adds, “Due to the extremely dangerous situation, the captain decided to turn the plane back to the airport.”
According to Drożdż, after the Special Intervention Team officers arrived, the aggressive passenger voluntarily left the plane, behaving calmly. The officers escorted the man to the security room, where he suddenly became very aggressive during the questioning.
The 34-year-old was aggressive. Charges were brought against him
The guards had to use direct coercive measures, including restraining holds and handcuffs. The 34-year-old was detained, the spokesperson reports.
He was charged with committing a crime under Article 211 Section 1 Point 7 of the Aviation Law Act, which states that anyone who does not comply with the commands of the aircraft commander related to flight safety is subject to a fine, restriction of freedom, or imprisonment for up to a year.
That night, the detained man was placed in the Detention Rooms at the Provincial Police Headquarters in Krakow. On Tuesday, he will be brought to the District Prosecutor's Office in Krakow - Prądnik Biały to face preventive measures.
Source: WP
