HOLS JET DIVERTED OVER FLY FAG IN LAV Passengers waiting for return flight hit by a 24-hour delay
A FLIGHT to Turkey was diverted – causing travel chaos for hundreds of Scots holidaymakers – after a passenger sparked a drunken brawl by smoking in the plane’s toilet.
Two families allegedly became involved in the melee on Saturday after a drunk Scot had a fly fag, causing an angry backlash from other travellers headed from Glasgow to Dalaman.
As the rumpus escalated, the captain decided to divert the Thomas Cook flight to Sofia, Bulgaria, where five people were arrested.
Flight MT640 was later allowed to travel on to Dalaman, where it arrived three-and-a-half hours later than scheduled.
Many of the passengers were on their way to the popular Marmaris resort.
The delay of the outbound flight had a knock-on effect for those returning from Dalaman to Glasgow.
Those holidaymakers were forced to endure a delay of almost 24 hours and were scheduled to finally fly home late last night.
Arrangements were made for Thomas Cook staff to look after an 11-year-old child after her parents were arrested by Bulgarian police.
The girl was flown to Turkey and was among those waiting to travel back to Scotland yesterday.
One traveller told the Record: “We were meant to be flying back from Dalaman at 3.20am but we were initially told there would a 90-minute delay.
“It then transpired that the flight was cancelled and we were taken to an airport hotel at Dalaman.
“One of the reps later told us there had been a barney on the plane coming out from Glasgow and that five drunken Scots had been arrested in Sofia after the flight was diverted there.
“There were a lot of unhappy people at this end but Thomas Cook gave us a decent hotel and they have fed us, so I suppose they are doing what they can.
“It’s pretty tragic that some people can’t get on a plane for a few hours without getting completely smashed and disgracing themselves.”
Among those on the plane was Gavin Wallace, a DJ and the stadium announcer for Partick Thistle.
Gavin confirmed the fracas started after a traveller smoked in the plane toilet.
He tweeted: “Flight MT640 Glasgow to Dalaman has made an emergency landing in Sofia due to fighting on board… two gents arrested by Bulgarian officials. All
One of the reps told us there had been a barney on the plane coming out HOLIDAYMAKER
stemmed from smoking in the toilet plus too much alcohol.”
He added: “Whilst I appreciate the crew on board flight MT640 are under severe pressure, the offer of a glass of water would be very well received by all on board the aircraft as we are coming up for two hours on the ground at Sofia on board the plane.”
A spokesperson for Thomas Cook Airlines said: “The captain decided to divert to Sofia due to disruptive passengers on board. The plane was met by police at Sofia airport and five passengers were removed from the flight.
“Passengers returning to Glasgow on MT641 have been looked after and kept informed on their rescheduled departure.
“We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience.
“We will always act with their safety and that of our crew as our top priority.”