Celtic football fans ‘riot’ on plane
Two female flight attendants were allegedly assaulted although neither needed hospital treatment.
The jet had to divert to Cardiff Airport after the crew sent out a mayday call following the disturbance on board, described by aviation sources as a “riot”.
Police surrounded the Glasgow-bound Boeing 737 as it landed with 148 passengers and crew on board.
An RAF Sea King helicopter was alerted after the mayday call was made but stood down once the plane landed.
Police were last night interviewing passengers and crew from the plane which was operated by the Gatwick-based charter airline Astraeus.
Celtic, who on Thursday night played Spanish club Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup, said they were “extremely concerned” about the incident.
In a statement, a spokesman for Astraeus said: “We can confirm that an Astraeus Boeing 737 en route from Santiago in northern Spain to Glasgow had to divert to Cardiff. It landed safely at 3.30pm following a disturbance on board involving a number of people.”
He went on: “We are currently investigating whether there were any injuries to crew or passengers, or any damage to the plane.”
Superintendent Colin Jones of South Wales police said the cabin crew were “very, very traumatised” by the incident.
“The vast majority of the passengers were behaving themselves but it was the mindless minority that were responsible for this disorder,” he said.
“There have been six arrests and some more may follow.”
The arrests were for criminal damage, public disorder and assault.
Supt Jones said: “cabin crew were shocked and tearful when he met them. But passenger Steve Prince said the incident had been “blown up out of all proportion”.
“Ninety-nine per cent of the people on board were well behaved,” he told BBC Radio Wales.
“There was certainly nothing like a riot taking place. There was no fighting and no one was drunk.
“We are all very concerned. It is the good name of the club at stake here."
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