A 41-year-old man was arrested Sunday after causing a mid-air disturbance aboard an easyJet flight from London to Glasgow, claiming he had a bomb and shouting inflammatory remarks including “Death to America” and “Death to Trump.”
The incident unfolded on July 27 as the flight departed from Luton Airport. According to eyewitness video shared with BBC and the Daily Mail, the man abruptly shouted “Stop the plane” before demanding passengers “Find the bomb on the plane.” He then repeatedly screamed “Allahu Akbar,” Arabic for “God is great.”
As the chaos escalated, fellow passengers intervened. One man tackled the suspect and pinned him to the aisle floor, while another passenger sat on him to restrain him. “Sit down. Don’t move,” the bystander told him firmly, as flight attendants alerted passengers that the plane would be landing shortly.
Other travelers on board asked the man if he had been drinking or using drugs and whether he truly had a bomb. No explosives were found, and there were no injuries reported.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
Upon arrival in Glasgow, Police Scotland officers boarded the aircraft and took the suspect into custody. “The 41-year-old man remains in custody,” police confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE, adding that counterterrorism officers are reviewing videos of the incident.
“At this time, we believe the incident was isolated and that no one else was involved,” the police added.
Authorities have not yet released the man’s identity or confirmed what charges he may face. It is also unclear if he has legal representation.
EasyJet Responds
In a statement, an easyJet spokesperson confirmed the passenger was removed from the flight “due to their behavior onboard.”
“Our crew is trained to assess and respond to all situations quickly and appropriately to ensure the safety of everyone on board,” the airline said. “The safety and well-being of our customers and crew is our top priority.”
The investigation is ongoing.
