Drunk passenger forces emergency landing on Prague-Egypt flight

A Smartwings flight from Prague to Hurghada, Egypt, was forced to make an emergency landing in Athens early Saturday morning due to the disruptive behavior of a drunk passenger.

The incident occurred after the man vomited on two fellow passengers and collapsed. A Greek doctor on board provided medical assistance, but the man became aggressive upon regaining consciousness and attacked the doctor.

According to Flightradar24, the flight, identified as QS 2524, departed Prague Airport shortly after midnight but diverted to Athens, landing just before 3 a.m. local time.

Upon landing, the man, reported to be a Czech diver traveling with a group of friends, was handed over to Greek police and medical personnel.

“The crew, along with a doctor on board, provided medical assistance to the passenger until the arrival of the airport medical service in Athens. After the passenger was unloaded, the flight continued to its final destination,” Smartwings spokeswoman Vladimíra Dufková told Novinky.cz.

The plane continued on to Hurghada following the removal of the disruptive passenger, concluding the eventful journey.

Disruptive passenger behavior remains a significant challenge for global transportation. In aviation, unruly incidents occur at a rate of one per 1,053 flights, with actions like tampering with emergency exits prompting updates to international aviation laws.

Similarly, Czech trains report rising cases of intoxicated and aggressive passengers, particularly on international routes. In response, rail operators have increased security measures, including deploying guards and enhancing police cooperation, to ensure passenger and staff safety.