Stag yobs spark plane and airport chaos as boozed-up Brits start long weekend off with very public displays of heavy drinking
The night before saw boozy behaviour cause chaos on streets across the country
STAG party yobs sparked airport chaos with armed police called to one flight and drunks hurled off another for chucking a shoe at the pilot.
Boozed-up revellers also caused mayhem in town centres as the four-day Easter break kicked off.
Airline trouble started early on Good Friday morning when police were called at 7.15 to break up a party featuring a groom dressed as an X-rated superhero.
A group of around 30 lads had been queuing on the tarmac waiting to board a Ryanair flight at Stansted in Essex when one lobbed his shoe at the jet.
It struck the cockpit window where the captain was sitting ready to fly the plane to Valencia.
All got on board but ground crew called the police who arrived and escorted two men off.
A couple more marched off to plead for their friends’ return, but all four were then banned from going back on the flight which eventually took off an hour late to Spain.
Other passengers were livid that most of the party were allowed to stay on, including the groom dressed as an X-rated superhero called Willyman.
An onlooker said: “Obviously they had a few beers and threw the shoe at the window and the captain saw it.
“The groom was in fancy dress as well, wearing a Willyman outfit.
“It was basically a Superman costume but with a fake penis dangling down between his legs. I don’t think that went down well either. We were delayed by about an hour.
“Everyone was furious, which made for a very uncomfortable flight.”
A few hours later armed police had to be called in over another stag party disturbance, this time on a Jet2 flight about to take off from Manchester.
Some 23 blokes were escorted off the plane for causing damage and swearing before it set off for Prague, Czech Republic.
Passengers were delayed while the yobs’ luggage was removed from the hold.
Lauren Sian posted a photo of an armed officer talking to staff on the plane due to leave at 3.15pm but still on the tarmac three hours later.
She tweeted: “Stag party removed by police from Jet2 plane for damaging property, swearing and being disruptive.”
The pilot is said to have told passengers over the PA system: “I have a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour towards the cabin crew.”
Another passenger, digital marketer Ailsa Iworth, said: “Stuck on the tarmac as some idiot stags and their luggage are removed. Don’t envy the Jet2 staff at times like this.
“Lovely staff handing out water and staying smiling and friendly whilst the police remove the misbehaving stags!”
The night before saw more boozy behaviour on streets around the country as the weekend started.
One woman was pictured slumped against a building as she urinated while checking her phone in the North West.
Airlines last night insisted they had a no-nonsense policy for badly behaved passengers.
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A spokesman for Ryanair said: “Ground staff at London Stansted Airport requested police assistance ahead of a flight to Valencia.
"A number of passengers became disruptive during boarding and were offloaded before the aircraft departed.
“We will not tolerate disruptive or unruly behaviour at any time.”
Essex Police said it considered the matter now closed after investigating.
A spokesman said: “Police were called to a report of a passenger issue at an aircraft at Stansted Airport at around 7.15am on Friday April 14.
“It was reported a shoe had been thrown and struck the aircraft as it was waiting to be boarded. Officers attended and ascertained no offences had been caused.
"A group of four passengers were escorted away by security staff.”
But Jet2 said it was prepared to prosecute any of the passengers who caused disruption in Manchester yesterday.
A spokesman said: “Flight LS887 from Manchester to Prague had to return to the parking stand today after our crew called for police assistance.
“Police attended the aircraft to support the removal of some customers, one of whom has subsequently been arrested and two others have been issued with public order offences.
“We would like to thank Greater Manchester Police for their assistance this afternoon and will be fully supporting the investigation and where required will prosecute if that is deemed necessary.”
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “At 3.45pm officers at the airport assisted with the removal of a group of passengers.
“One was issued with a public order fixed penalty notice. In total 23 passengers were offloaded.”
TRAVEL HOT SPOTS
HOLIDAY families were stuck in their cars for hours yesterday as a gas tanker fire shut the M4.
The incident near Bath closed both carriageways for an hour, with long tailbacks either side. Highway bosses expect more jams as getaway families make 20million road trips over Easter and another two million head overseas. Rail services will be disrupted too as Network Rail carries out more than 200 engineering projects. Trains to London, Manchester, Bath, Edinburgh and Glasgow are among those affected.
BARMY WEATHER
SNOW is forecast just a week after the hottest day of the year.
Flurries could fall in the hills of Scotland overnight with temperatures close to freezing, according to the Met Office.
Last weekend it was 25.5C (78F) in Cambridge. Forecaster Chris Page said: “At this time of year weather is influenced by wind direction.”
Sunshine and rain are forecast in most parts over Easter, with temperatures from 14C (57F) in the South and 3C (37F) at night in northern areas.