An in-flight dispute leads to emergency landing as two families face removal due to an escalating confrontation over a film being watched by a child.
Two families were removed from an easyJet flight following a confrontation sparked by a five-year-old boy watching the film The Karate Kid on his iPad during a flight. The incident took place mid-air while the plane was travelling from Lanzarote, a popular holiday destination in the Canary Islands, to London Gatwick.
While the boy watched the 2010 remake of the film at a low volume, a woman seated four rows ahead became frustrated and requested that he turn it off. According to the boy’s mother, who is a 26-year-old lettings officer from South London, the interaction escalated when the woman allegedly shouted racial abuse at her son. In her account, she claimed that as tensions rose, the woman’s partner physically assaulted her disabled companion by grabbing him by the neck.
The situation deteriorated to the extent that the easyJet pilot opted to make an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal, where law enforcement officers were waiting to address the escalating conflict. After the diversion, both families found themselves stranded in Porto, having to arrange their own transportation back home after their holiday.
The mother of the boy, who has expressed her desire to take legal action against the airline, insists that her family were the victims of the incident. She told the Sun, “This incident involved racial abuse, discrimination, and physical assault. My son was left extremely scared and distressed.” Furthermore, she lamented the lack of response from easyJet, stating that despite her complaints spanning nine months, the airline has yet to communicate with her.
In light of this incident, easyJet reiterated its commitment to the safety of passengers, stating, “Safety is our highest priority. We do not tolerate disruptive behaviour.” Sources suggest that the airline has since banned those involved from future flights. The airline’s conditions of carriage highlight its right to refuse transport or remove passengers if they are believed to pose a disruption, including those who engage in abusive or discriminatory behaviour.
As investigations continue, the incident raises questions about inflight conduct and the protocols airlines employ to handle conflicts among passengers.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/air-passenger-shames-easyjet-on-tiktok-after-he-was-charged-48-for-carry-on-bag/ – This article highlights easyJet’s strict policies regarding passenger conduct and luggage, which can sometimes lead to confrontations with staff. It shows how easyJet handles passenger disputes, though it does not directly relate to the incident described.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Karate_Kid_(franchise) – This Wikipedia page provides information about *The Karate Kid* franchise, including the 2010 remake that was involved in the incident. It supports the claim that the film was being watched during the flight.
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/22/2024-07496/guidance-for-federal-financial-assistance – This document from the Federal Register does not directly relate to the incident but provides general information on regulatory guidance, which might be tangentially relevant to airline policies and legal actions.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-A/part-18 – This part of the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations deals with administrative procedures, which could be relevant to legal actions against airlines but does not directly support the claims in the article.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is mentioned as the origin of the article but does not provide additional URLs to support specific claims. It is the primary source for the incident described.
- https://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Report-of-the-Impeachment-Inquiry-of-Joseph-R.-Biden-Jr.-President-of-the-United-States.pdf – This document is unrelated to the incident involving easyJet and *The Karate Kid*. It pertains to a political investigation and does not support any claims in the article.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The incident appears to be recent, as it involves a specific event with no clear indication of being recycled from older news. However, the lack of a specific date for the incident and the mention of a nine-month delay in the mother’s complaints suggest it may not be entirely new.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quote from the mother is referenced as being told to the *Sun*, but there is no direct link to verify it as the original source. Without further confirmation, it’s difficult to determine if this is the first use of the quote.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from the *Daily Mail*, a well-known publication, which generally lends credibility. However, the reliability can vary based on the specific topic and sources used within the narrative.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The incident described is plausible, given the context of in-flight conflicts and the actions taken by the airline. The details provided align with typical protocols for handling disruptions on flights.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and plausible, with a credible source. While the quote’s originality is uncertain, the overall context and details provided support the plausibility of the incident.
