EasyJet flight EZY3352 from Tenerife to Liverpool was forced to turn back to the Spanish island after an alleged fight broke out on board, with around 10 passengers said to have been involved
09:57, 22 Jul 2026Updated 11:54, 22 Jul 2026
A mass brawl is said to have broken out on board the flight(Image: Sjo via Getty Images)
An easyJet flight destined for the UK was forced to return to Tenerife following a large-scale brawl on board.
Spanish air traffic controllers reported that around 10 passengers were involved in the melee on the plane bound for Liverpool. They stated: “The crew of the flight from Tenerife South to Liverpool informed us, after about 30 minutes in the air, that they needed to return to the airport and requested a police presence upon arrival.
“A group of around 10 passengers had started a fight on board, and the captain decided to turn back because of the danger this posed to the safety of the flight. We expedited their return as much as possible while coordinating with the airport to ensure a police presence.
The plane was forced to turn back to Tenerife(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“They landed and vacated runway 07 without incident. Our full support goes to the crews and passengers who are having to endure these situations more and more often.”
The incident occurred on easyJet flight EZY3352, which flight trackers indicate departed Tenerife South Airport just before 8pm local time yesterday and returned to the same airport at five past nine.
It wasn’t immediately clear this morning whether all the passengers said to have been involved in the brawl were British and whether any arrests had been made.
One Spaniard reacting to the news on social media commented: “I’m amazed by the number of flights departing from or arriving in the UK that experience security problems like this. What a disgrace.”
An easyJet spokesperson confirmed today: “Flight EZY3352 from Tenerife to Liverpool yesterday returned to the airport and was met by police due to a group of passengers behaving disruptively.
“The flight then continued onto its final destination. Our cabin and ground crew are trained to assess all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time.
“We take these incidents very seriously and do not tolerate disruptive behaviour towards our staff. The safety and wellbeing of customers and crew is always our highest priority.”
Despite Spanish air traffic controllers stating the plane had returned to Tenerife due to a brawl involving several passengers and easyJet confirming a number of passengers “behaved disruptively”, one British bloke insisted on social media late last night: “My daughter is on this flight. A family with kids got escorted off the plane. No fighting at all.”
A spokesman for the Civil Guard confirmed all those involved were British, however, no arrests had been made. She said: “Eight people were removed from the plane who had been travelling together, two adults and six minors.
“What appears to have happened is that a heated discussion started in the airport terminal between two families before they boarded the plane and those problems obviously continued on the plane which is why it turned back. We’re not aware of any physical fighting on board. No arrests took place but all eight people taken off the plane have been identified. All eight are British nationals.”
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