Gatwick to Tenerife Sur flight arrives. Credit: Lapa Smile – Shutterstock
Holidaymakers flew terrified for four and a half hours as the crew battled chaos at 30,000 ft before a priority touchdown at Tenerife South was granted.
Frightened passengers went through a terrifying ordeal on an easyJet flight from London Gatwick to Tenerife South when 12 disruptive men turned the journey into a scene of airborne mayhem on June 11. The cabin crew raised the alarm mid-flight, leading to Spanish air traffic controllers granting urgent priority landing clearance to get the Airbus A321 safely on the ground as fast as possible. Police teams raced to meet the aircraft at Tenerife South Airport and one by one removed the troublemakers.
Por docenas! 🤬
La tripulación del vuelo procedente de Gatwick llegando a #Tenerife Sur nos comunica que llevan 12 pasajeros conflictivos a bordo.
Solicitan presencia policial a su llegada. Les recortamos la maniobra en lo posible. Aterrizan sin incidencias.
Todo nuestro apoyo… pic.twitter.com/wkpBT2WPL0
— 😉Controladores Aéreos 🇪🇸 (@controladores) June 11, 2026
The crew contacted control towers directly after the group caused serious disturbance onboard. Controllers shortened the approach dramatically to minimise risks to everyone else on board. The plane touched down without further incident, but the episode has left travellers demanding stronger action against repeat offenders who ruin holidays for families and couples.
Crew act fast as tensions boil over
EasyJet later confirmed that officers met flight EZY8035 on arrival because of the group’s behaviour. A spokesperson stressed that cabin crew are trained to handle these situations quickly and that safety remains the top priority. No arrests were confirmed in initial reports, but passengers described the atmosphere as deeply unsettling.
This latest case adds to a growing pattern of alcohol-fuelled disruption on UK flights heading to the Canary Islands. Many incidents link directly to excessive drinking before or during flights, leaving crews and fellow passengers to deal with aggressive or unruly behaviour.
Passengers and experts demand tougher crackdowns
Social media has erupted with calls for immediate and lasting punishment. One X user wrote, “Just kick all of them off the plane and put them on the no-fly list. It’s the only way to stop this behaviour because it’s disrupting and tiring for everybody else.”
Another posted: “The only way to address these people is for ALL airlines to ban them from flying on any flight for a year. This goes for those that get drunk or abusive to airline staff.”
Airlines, including easyJet and Jet2, have already lobbied the UK Civil Aviation Authority for a centralised database that would blacklist disruptive passengers across all carriers. Supporters argue this would prevent offenders simply switching airlines after being banned by one company.
Tenerife tourism at risk from repeat offenders
Local tourism leaders in Tenerife fear these repeated incidents damage the island’s reputation as a safe family destination. Police presence at the gate sends a strong message, yet many holidaymakers want offenders to face instant fines, immediate deportation, or permanent travel bans. Experts warn that without harsher deterrents, the problem will continue to escalate during peak summer months.
EasyJet and other carriers continue to train staff and work with authorities, but passengers say more must be done at check-in and before boarding to stop drunk passengers from ever reaching the gate. One thing is clear after this latest Tenerife scare: the days of turning a blind eye to drunken yobs in the skies may finally be coming to an end.
