A man in his 20s was arrested at Manchester Airport after boarding an easyJet flight with incorrect documentation. The incident occurred when the man was allowed to board a plane bound for Milan Malpensa, despite having a boarding pass for a different flight. The situation was only discovered after the plane had already taxied onto the runway.
Police officers boarded the plane and conducted a search, leading to the man being escorted off the aircraft. Other passengers were also removed from the flight for re-screening, while all luggage and suitcases were thoroughly searched. The flight, EZY 2127, was delayed as a result of the incident on Friday, October 4.
The man was detained on suspicion of secreting himself onto the aircraft without consent and causing a public nuisance. Fortunately, no suspicious items were found on the plane, and the incident was not deemed to be terror-related. The flight departed more than four hours late and arrived in Milan in the early hours of Saturday.
The security breach took place at the boarding gate, despite the man passing through initial security screening without issue. Both EasyJet and Manchester Airport issued apologies for the delay, with the airline citing the incident as an ‘extraordinary circumstance’ beyond their control.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed the arrest of the man and stated that investigations were ongoing. The airport reassured the public that all security protocols were followed, and they were working closely with law enforcement to address the situation.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent security measures at airports to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew. It also highlights the need for thorough checks at every stage of the boarding process to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.