Banned for life: Jet2 flight diverts after violent brawl breaks out among passengers
February 16, 2026
UK leisure carrier Jet2 has banned two passengers for life after a violent altercation on board flight LS896 from Antalya to Manchester, which forced an emergency diversion to Brussels. The airline has previously taken a hard-line stance on disruptive behaviour, with a zero-tolerance policy.
Mid-air violence triggers Jet2 diversion and lifetime bans for unruly passengers
The confrontation escalated into a physical fight in the aisle, alarming passengers and requiring cabin-crew intervention before the flight diverted to Belgium, where police removed the individuals.
Reports of the incident shared on social media indicate the dispute may have been fuelled by alleged racist remarks and intoxication, which is frequently linked to serious onboard disturbances.
A Jet2 spokesperson confirmed the incident to The Sun, describing it as “appalling behaviour.”
The spokesperson added, “We can confirm that the two disruptive passengers will be banned from flying with us for life. We will also vigorously pursue them to recover the costs that we incurred as a result of this diversion. As a family-friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour.”
Jet2’s stance on this recent incident is consistent with the carrier’s earlier actions to discourage unruly passenger behaviour onboard. It has previously taken legal action against disruptive passengers and said it would “take whatever action necessary to stamp it out,” including lifetime bans, criminal charges, and financial penalties, such as legal fines and the recovery of costs associated with the disruption.
The UK addresses unruly behaviour with “One Too Many” Campaign
Excessive alcohol consumption before the flight has been linked to a number of unruly passenger incidents. Last year, Ryanair called on the European Union to limit alcohol sales at airports. The airline, which has sued disruptive passengers to recover costs of flight diversions, has limited its sales of alcohol on board.
Airlines and airports in the UK have been addressing the link between unruly behaviour and excess alcohol consumption for years. In 2018, the UK Travel Retail Forum (UKTRF), the Airport Operators Association (AOA), Airlines UK, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched the “One Too Many” campaign to tackle disruptive passenger incidents.
The campaign “emphasises personal accountability” for passengers in the consumption of alcohol, warning of serious consequences for disruptive behaviour, including:
- Denied boarding
- Up to 2 years in jail for disrupting a flight
- A £5,000 fine for delaying a flight from taking off
- A £80,000 diversion fee for mid-air incidents
- Airline ban
Unruly passenger behaviour: a rare but persistent problem for airlines
Unruly passenger behaviour has been rising, despite industry efforts to address it. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) defines these incidents as including “violence against crew and other passengers, harassment, verbal abuse, smoking, failure to follow safety and public health instructions and other forms of riotous behaviour.”
According to IATA, disruptive passenger conduct is still rare, statistically, but has a “disproportionate impact” on airline operations. “They create inconvenience, may threaten the health, safety and security of other passengers and crew, and can lead to significant operational disruption and costs for airlines,” IATA states.
The latest IATA figures, based on over 24,500 incident reports from over 50 operators globally, show:
- 1 incident for every 480 flights in 2023 (versus one incident for every 568 flights in 2022).
- Non-compliance with crew instructions was the most frequently cited reason.
- The number of reports mentioning verbal and physically abusive behaviours also increased in 2023.
According to IATA, this data is consistent across “regional and national aviation regulators, including the US Federal Aviation Administration, the European Aviation Safety Agency, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and others.” The airline association recommends a “two-pillar approach” that combines stronger international legal deterrents with improved incident prevention and management.
Airlines push zero-tolerance enforcement for unruly passengers
The persistence of disruptive behaviour, despite industry and government efforts to address it, has led to calls for stricter consequences. The legal complications of enforcing criminal penalties for flight disruption across international boundaries have left the burden on airlines, such as Jet2, to increasingly impose lifetime bans and pursue civil legal action, including cost-recovery claims.
The diversion of flight LS896 and the violence behind it prove that serious disruptive passenger incidents remain a concern for commercial aviation. No matter how infrequent, violent incidents can endanger passengers and crew, disrupt travel plans for the many others on board who complied with flight rules, and incur high costs for travellers and airlines alike.
Featured image: kirill_makarov / stock.adobe.com
