‘Drunk’ Emirates passenger ‘stripped off and lit cigarette’ on flight from UK to Dubai
EMIRATES had a mid-flight emergency when a passenger allegedly stripped off his clothes and lit a cigarette on a flight from the UK to Dubai, filling the cabin with smoke.
Emirates: A 'drunk' passenger 'stripped off and lit a cigarette' on a flight from the UK
According to other passengers, the man had been drinking in the upper deck business class bar for hours.
The plane - travelling from Manchester to Dubai on December 9 - began to prepare for landing.
But when smoke filled the cabin of the Airbus A380, crew turned their attention to the man, believed to be in his 50s.
Passengers claim he was intoxicated and stripped off to his waist before lighting up a cigarette during the landing stages.
Emirates: The man was at the upper deck business class bar during the flight
Drunk passengers prompt airport alcohol sales review
It’s believed a supervisor found a packet of cigarettes in the man’s seat pocket after crew had to restrain him.
One of the cigarettes was allegedly partially smoked.
A passenger on flight EK020 from Greater Manchester who was sitting in the row in front, said the man was behaving like a ‘buffoon’.
He told Manchester Evening News: “I fly 150,000 miles a year and have never seen anyone light up on a plane.
“This has really hacked me off. These kinds of people need restricting from travelling with the general public because they are a nuisance.
“He had a very loud Manchester accent. He was at the bar for ages and then at one point I came back from the toilet and he was in his seat with his shirt off. Who does that on a flight?
“Then there was smoke in the cabin after the captain announced we were landing.”
The man was reportedly heard saying he’d ‘forgotten he was on a plane’ and wanted to ‘chat with the captain to apologise’.
Emirates: Passengers say the man stripped off and lit a cigarette as the plane was landing
Emirates can confirm on the flight from Manchester to Dubai an intoxicated passenger had to be restrained
Fire crews rushed to the plane as soon as it was on the tarmac.
An Emirates spokesperson said: “Emirates can confirm that on flight EK020 from Manchester to Dubai on 9 December, an intoxicated passenger had to be restrained by cabin crew. The aircraft was met by security upon landing at Dubai airport.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance and will not be compromised.”