A British passenger reportedly compelled a pilot to conduct an emergency landing by allegedly assaulting another passenger on a flight from Manchester to Antalya, Turkey. The incident led to an unscheduled landing in Thessaloniki, Greece. The altercation involved a 35-year-old British man and a 41-year-old Turkish passenger, although the exact trigger for the assault remains unclear. The emergency landing occurred at approximately 11pm local time as directed by the captain.
Following the incident, the British individual was apprehended upon landing, as per reports from the Greek news outlet Ekathimerini. The assaulted passenger received medical evaluation at the airport before continuing to Antalya. The British passenger was set to face legal proceedings on charges including dangerous interference with transportation, bodily harm, disobedience, and disturbing the peace.
Subsequently, the British individual was convicted in a Thessaloniki court for the assault and handed a 15-month prison sentence. However, an arrangement allowed him to pay a daily rate to nullify his sentence. He was found guilty of causing bodily harm and disrupting the peace but was acquitted of the disobedience charge. The sentence was suspended pending an appeal, and the British passenger was released.
During the court proceedings, the British passenger denied physically assaulting the fellow traveler, stating that he merely pushed him in response to feeling a disturbance while attempting to recline his seat. He claimed innocence of any violent actions, admitting to consuming a small amount of alcohol during the flight, which was corroborated by cabin crew reports of him drinking two cans of beer.
