Footage captured on a Ryanair flight from Edinburgh to Palma de Mallorca shows a drunk passenger allegedly punching a police officer during an arrest, leaving fellow holidaymakers scared and stunned. The incident occurred on June 16, 2026, and was filmed by fellow passenger Ritchie Denholm, 40, who pulled out his phone when the disruptive man landed a punch on one of the officers' faces.
Passenger describes intoxicated couple's behavior
According to Ritchie, a man and woman at the front of the aircraft were heavily intoxicated before boarding. "They were very drunk before leaving Edinburgh, lover's tiff and it all started," Ritchie, from Edinburgh, told NeedToKnow. "The crew intervened until landing, then when they found out they're getting arrested they started again. Some passengers were scared and shocked."
The flight departed from Edinburgh airport on June 16, and the confrontation escalated when officers boarded to eject the unruly couple. The footage shows several officers approaching the pair; one officer begins wrestling with the man to eject him before being struck in the face. The video then cuts to three male officers restraining the man, with one apparently hitting him and another striking him with a baton-like object.
Passenger calls for more security
Ritchie expressed support for the officers' actions, saying: "If I'm honest they should've been battered more. No one should put anyone at risk on a flight considering things that have happened on flights in the past. There should be more security on flights to stop anyone intoxicated getting on." Ryanair has been approached for a comment.
In a separate incident, boisterous Brits transformed their Ryanair flight into an unforgettable party. Passenger TJ Wright, 28, a solo traveller from Thurrock, Essex, witnessed fellow passengers celebrating in the aisle on a flight from London Stansted to Malta for a dance music festival. "Everyone was strangers on this flight and we all became one," TJ told NeedToKnow. "I must say, as a solo traveller I had one of the best flights just due to everyone being ready to party. All of the passengers just broke out with cheers, music and a 'party'."
According to TJ, the party started after one passenger hurled a bottle at another, apparently fed up with noise from the seats behind her.
