Police haul woman off TUI flight after she's accused of refusing to put seatbelt on child

Police hauled a woman off a flight recently after she 'refused' to put a seatbelt on her child.

Holidaymakers travelling from Kos to Manchester were left 'tired' and 'exhausted' when their flight - which was due to depart at 1.25pm - was delayed by almost six hours on Wednesday (21 June).

But things got worse when they got into the air and the pilot had to abort the landing when one passenger refused to buckle her child's belt when the light came on.

After circling the Peak District, the TUI plane was able to land at Manchester Airport at 9.46pm that evening.

And when they arrived on the runway, they were met by several police officers who boarded the flight and escorted the woman off.

In footage from the incident, officers can be seen walking down the central aisle before directing a woman from her seat.

As it unfolds, a fellow passenger can be heard saying it's 'absolutely disgusting'.

Reach

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News about the incident, one passenger said: "Before we took off, flight attendants went to check seatbelts and the woman said her child was terrified and they refused to take off.

"She eventually did it and we took off. When we were up in the air, everything seemed fine and there was not a peep out of them.

"When we came to land, the flight had already been delayed so everyone was in a terrible mood. Then it all kicked off.

"They went round checking seatbelts again and she was screaming saying she was not going to restrain her child and that she was terrified.

"Passengers were screaming [and] swearing at her, telling her to sit down and calling her selfish, it was all kicking off.

"The captain came over the tannoy and said we would circle in the air. After we landed, we stayed on the plane and the police came on and she was escorted off."

Reach

TUI confirmed that the plane was met by police and that a 'disruptive passenger' was escorted off.

A spokesperson confirmed that the woman was removed after refusing to put a seatbelt on her child.

"We can confirm that TOM2309 faced delays yesterday due to a disruptive passenger on board the flight from Kos to Manchester," the company said.

"The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our highest priority, and we have a zero tolerance policy to disruptive behaviour on our flights.

"The customer involved was met by police upon landing and escorted off of the aircraft.

"We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, and thank customers for their patience and understanding."

Tyla has contacted Greater Manchester Police for comment.