A Passenger Ate His Passport Mid-Flight and Forced the Plane to Divert
A Ryanair flight traveling between Milan and London Stansted diverted to Paris after a disruption involving two passengers shortly after takeoff. The incident occurred about 15 to 20 minutes into the flight, just after the seatbelt sign switched off. Cabin crew intervened, pilots altered course, and French police met the aircraft on arrival. Passengers continued to London hours later after authorities cleared the plane. At the time of reporting, the airline had not issued a detailed public explanation.
Reports later confirmed that one passenger tore pages out of his passport and began eating them. A second passenger headed into the lavatory and attempted to flush his own passport. The acts themselves were brief, but the implications were serious. Travel documents are tied to identity, security, and border control, and tampering with them mid-air sets off alarms for everyone involved.
How Tension Spread Inside the Cabin
Image via Canva/kasto
Passengers described a fast change in mood once crew members realized what was happening. Flight attendants moved between rows and made direct announcements, asking for cooperation. At one point, a crew member knocked on the lavatory door and urged the passenger inside to come out. Several travelers later said those minutes felt longer than the rest of the trip combined. Even without shouting or physical fights, the uncertainty rattled nerves. No one knew why passports were being destroyed or what might happen next, and that lack of clarity made the situation feel unstable.
The Decision To Divert
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Bene Riobó
Pilots chose to divert the aircraft to Paris Beauvais Airport. Diversions are costly and disruptive, but airlines do not take chances when passenger behavior crosses security thresholds. Once on the ground, French police boarded the plane and arrested both men. Officers also searched carry-on luggage before the flight could continue.
The stop in France lasted close to two hours. After authorities cleared the aircraft, the remaining passengers continued to London. Multiple reports indicated that Ryanair compensated travelers for the delay, though the airline did not issue a public statement explaining the incident at the time.
Why Passports Trigger Serious Consequences
A passport connects a person to citizenship, visa status, and entry rights. Destroying one during an international flight raises immediate questions for airline staff and border officials. Even if no broader threat exists, crews must assume risk until authorities confirm otherwise.
Aviation rules also place responsibility on airlines to deliver passengers with valid documents. When someone attempts to eliminate proof of identity mid-flight, the airline faces legal and operational exposure. That explains why the crew escalated the response and why pilots opted for a diversion rather than waiting it out.
After landing in London, several travelers praised the crew’s handling of the situation. The reason behind the passport destruction remains unclear. Authorities did not release details about the motive, and speculation faded once the arrests occurred.