Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

A passenger posted a photo of police boarding the plane. Facebook

Vegas-bound plane forced to turn around mid-flight amid reports of rowdy Irish passengers

The flight from New York to Las Vegas turned back after about 30 minutes.

Updated 3.25 pm

A FLIGHT FROM New York to Las Vegas was forced to turn around and land again at JFK International because of what’s believed to have been unruly Irish passengers on board.

Last night’s incident comes before Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor fights for a world title in the city on Saturday and Irish fans have been travelling there ahead of the bout.

Jet Blue Flight 611 left from JFK International in New York just before 8pm local time en route to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

About thirty minutes into the flight, it turned around and returned to land again in New York with the airline saying there was a “disturbance between customers”.

A number of Irish people on board the flight have been posting their frustration about the delay online. Posting to the 12 Pubs of Vegas Facebook page, one passenger says that two Irish men became physical with one another on board:

About 25 mins into a five-and-a-half hour flight, these other two Irish lads start kicking off at each other. Got very heated and one guy, despite everyone on the plane shouting at him to sit down, struck out and threw a few slaps at the other lad. Flight crew go mad, separate the two fellas and now we are on our way back to JFK again!

The post had earlier mentioned that there had also been a delay in the flight taking off because,

every time the flight attendant tried to read out the safety procedures on board the aircraft, this drunk Irish fella kept singing “Ole Ole Ole & Oggy oggyoggy”. So flight crewcall the cops and your man gets escorted off the plane.

After diverting back to JFK the men involved in the incident were removed from the aircraft by local authorities.

Eventually, the flight departed for a second time and landed without incident shortly before 11pm Las Vegas time last night.

Port Authority Police at JFK say no arrests were made.

Read: From famine to feast: Conor McGregor’s relationship with the media >

Read: Mother convicted of assaulting her toddler daughter on board plane >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Author
Rónán Duffy
View 130 comments
Close
130 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds