Guardia Civil officers arrested a South American passenger who exploded during Ryanair check-in, leaving an airline staffer with a badly wounded lip. Panic and violence broke out at Palma de Mallorca’s Son Sant Joan Airport. What should have been a regular check-in for flight FR2062 to Madrid transformed into a scene straight out of an action film, minus the cameras and the fiction.
The tension was evident at Ryanair’s check-in counters. As is customary, personnel of the low-cost airline rigorously inspected passengers’ handbags. This picture, which occurs on a daily basis, is part of the company’s rigid business policy: suitcases are measured down to the millimetre, and anyone who exceeds the strict limitations faces immediate fees.
According to private security sources at the airport, this behaviour not only fosters a perpetual climate of confrontation but also puts workers “on the front lines.” “The managers set the rules to charge more money, but they leave the poor guys who have to deal with the passengers to fend for themselves,” they say loudly.
This time, emotions boiled over. When ground staff informed a very irritated South American tourist that his luggage did not satisfy the size standards, he began berating them. What began as a disagreement quickly became a heated debate. Shouts, recriminations, and frazzled nerves echoed throughout the crowded station.
Suddenly, the situation became violent. The passenger acted out of control and attacked the ground attendant. Eyewitnesses say he hit him in the face numerous times, fracturing his lip and knocking out a few teeth. Not happy with that, he executed a vicious headbutt that left the worker bleeding profusely in front of scores of stunned passengers.
The hit was so violent that the assailant had a cut on his forehead from the headbutt. Chaos broke out in the check-in area. Passengers backed away, screaming filled the air, cell phones captured the moment, and staff attempted to control the man until security arrived. Within minutes, Guardia Civil officers and Trablisa security guards stormed the terminal and apprehended the perpetrator, who was restrained and handcuffed immediately.
The injured worker required immediate medical attention owing to the severity of his oral injuries, and the detained passenger was also brought to a medical facility to address an open wound on his forehead. According to police and private security sources, these types of instances are not uncommon. They specifically identify the company’s “aggressive and inappropriate policies” as the frequent source of extremely tense circumstances. “Arguments occur every day. Every day, risks emerge. “Today it ended in bloodshed,” they lamented.
Flight FR2062 was delayed until the crisis was resolved and the area affected by the altercation was cleaned up. The incident at Son Sant Joan Airport has reignited debate over the extent to which rigid business practices are contributing to an increasingly tense atmosphere at airports. Because when business is challenging, workers suffer. This time, the price was paid with fists.
Author: Derek Appleton
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