An EasyJet flight from Lyon to Porto was forced to return to France after a passenger suffering from delirium attempted to break into the cockpit shortly after take-off, French police and the airline confirmed on Tuesday.
The incident occurred on flight EJU4429 late on Monday evening, just minutes after the aircraft departed from Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport bound for northern Portugal. According to police, the passenger – a 26-year-old Portuguese national – suddenly attempted to enter the cockpit before being restrained by fellow travellers.
Witnesses said other passengers quickly intervened, overpowering the man and holding him until the plane was able to turn back. Cabin crew then secured him with restraints as the pilots diverted the aircraft back to Lyon.
Emergency services and police were waiting when the Airbus landed. The man was immediately removed from the plane and taken into custody for medical assessment.
Authorities later confirmed that the passenger was not carrying weapons and posed no further threat once restrained. Medical examinations indicated that he had been suffering from a combination of severe airsickness and delirium, which may have triggered his erratic behaviour.
An EasyJet spokesperson confirmed the disruption in a statement, saying: “Flight EJU4429 from Lyon to Porto returned to Lyon shortly after take-off due to the behaviour of a passenger onboard. The flight was met by police on arrival and, once the passenger was removed, it continued on to Porto.”
The airline apologised to passengers for the unexpected delay but stressed that the safety and wellbeing of customers and crew remained its top priority.
Following the removal of the passenger, the flight eventually departed Lyon later the same evening, reaching Porto without further incident.
While rare, incidents involving disruptive passengers have been increasing across Europe in recent years. Aviation authorities have repeatedly warned of the risks posed by unruly behaviour onboard, which can threaten the safety of passengers and crew. Under international aviation law, attempts to interfere with cockpit operations are treated with the utmost seriousness, though in this case police emphasised the medical nature of the incident.
Local media in France reported that the 26-year-old remained under medical supervision on Tuesday, with no immediate indication of whether he would face criminal charges.
The French Civil Aviation Authority is expected to review the incident, though officials described it as an isolated case.
Passengers arriving in Porto praised both the crew and fellow travellers for their swift response, with one describing the situation as “alarming but very well handled.”
