Disappointed French passengers onboard Ryanair staged a revolt when the aircraft was diverted, causing a delay.
One of the 170 travellers was taken suddenly ill, so the flight from Rabat, Morocco to Paris made an unplanned stop in Madrid for medical attention.
The ensuing delay of several hours meant that flight had missed its chance to land at Beauvais airport in Paris owing to a curfew on night flights.
Instead it had to land in Nantes, western France, where passengers were told they would have to spend the night before resuming their journey the next day.
And here the trouble began.
The police were called and had to intervene when angry passengers abused staff, refused to follow instructions, and stole goods from trollies.
The French daily Metronews reported that “anything of value” was stolen, including cigarettes, food and drink, and perfume, with cabin crew effectively taken hostage.
"They pillaged the aircraft for food, drinks – especially alcoholic drinks – cigarettes and perfumes, anything of any value,” said a member of staff at Nantes. "They behaved like animals towards the plane, the crew members and members of the airport’s ground staff."
One passenger said it was the seven hour journey which set people off. “We were tired, on edge, because the situation was badly managed, we were hungry and thirsty and no one was giving us any information,” he said. “After seven hours locked in a plane – instead of the scheduled two-and-a-half – people need to eat. We simply helped ourselves."
According to Ryanair, “Passengers were provided with overnight hotel accommodation and were transferred by coach to Paris Beauvais the following morning, in line with Ryanair’s policies and obligations.”
