Jet2 ban man for life as Essex flight returned to Stansted

A Jet2 flight heading for Crete in Greece scheduled to depart at 5.55am on Tuesday had to divert back to Stansted Airport due to the behaviour of two passengers.

Families on board described them as "drunk as skunks", according to MailOnline.

Police were alerted to the flight's imminent return and met the disruptive passengers after the plane landed, where they detained both for searches.

One man was arrested and has since been released under investigation.

A spokesman for Jet2 said: "We can confirm that a customer has been issued with a lifetime ban following a catalogue of disgraceful and aggressive behaviour, which led to flight LS1577 from London Stansted to Crete Heraklion on Tuesday, August 5, having to return to Stansted so that police could offload them.

"We would like to thank the police and our crew for their handling of this difficult situation.

"As a family friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour and we will fully support the authorities with any subsequent investigation, including prosecutions and pursuing civil proceedings if necessary."

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We were called at around 8.40am on Tuesday, August 5, to reports of a disruptive passenger on board a flight bound for Greece.

“Officers were alerted to the flight’s imminent return to Stansted Airport and detained two passengers for searches.

“One was arrested and taken on to custody after a quantity of suspected Class A drugs was found.

“A man, aged in his 20s, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

"He has since been released under investigation.”

A Stansted spokesperson confirmed the Jet2 flight returned to London Stansted on August 5, where it was met by officers from Essex Police following reports of disruptive passenger behaviour.