- Passengers on the Saudia Airlines aircraft were left ‘frightened’ during incident
- Were YOU on the flight? Email: jon.brady@dailymail.co.uk
A plane passenger has been arrested after reportedly punching a crew member and attempted to open a cabin door at London Heathrow Airport.
Police and firefighters rushed to the Saudia Airlines aircraft, which landed from Jeddah at around 1pm on August 28.
A male passenger allegedly argued with a flight attendant before hitting him, after demanding to disembark from the plane before it had reached its final destination.
Pilots on the Boeing 737 Dreamliner were forced to brake on the taxiway to Terminal 4 and call for urgent assistance as the unruly passenger attempted to open the door.
A set of rescue stairs was hastily brought to the door of the aircraft so police could rush inside.
Fire engines, police vehicles, airport security cars and an ambulance were seen gathered at the aircraft’s port side.
The incident did not cause any disruption to operations at Heathrow, but passengers on Flight SV119 were said to have been left ‘frightened’.
The return flight, SV120, was delayed by almost four hours following the incident.
Were YOU on the flight? Email: jon.brady@dailymail.co.uk
Police and firefighters rushed to the Saudia Airlines aircraft, which landed from Jeddah at around 1pm on August 28
Police, fire, Heathrow security and ambulance vehicles were gathered at the foot of emergency steps set up to allow rapid access to the plane
Flightradar24 data shows the plane stranded on the taxiway close to Terminal 4 following the August 28 flight
Once the aircraft had reached the gate, officials boarded and arrested a 33-year-old man. Flightradar24 data showed the jet stranded in the taxiway – its transponder switched off before it finally reached Terminal 4 itself.
Dramatic photos from the scene show at least four fire trucks and several police cars and ambulances surrounding the plane.
A source with knowledge of the incident told the Daily Mail: ‘It was chaos on board and very frightening for families.
‘The plane had wheels down but a passenger was so agitated and struck out at the crew because he wanted to get off there and then.
‘It was crazy – so close to reaching the aircraft stand.’
The Metropolitan Police arrested a man in his thirties on suspicion of endangering an aircraft, among other suspected offences. He was released under investigation.
A police spokesperson said: ‘Officers at London Heathrow Airport were called to an aircraft, which had recently landed at 12:57hrs on Thursday, 28 August following reports of a disturbance.
‘Officers arrested a 33-year-old man on suspicion of endangering an aircraft, two counts of assault by beating, behaving in a threatening, abusive or disorderly manner towards a member of aircraft crew and damaging an aircraft.’
The flight, registered HZ-AR27, took off from Jeddah 38 minutes late and landed at Heathrow just over six hours later.
The Mail has contacted Saudia Airlines for comment.
