Bomb threat from man refused beer on Ryanair flight in Spain

A man has been arrested after making a fake bomb threat when he was refused beer on a Ryanair flight in Spain.

The man was travelling from Tenerife to Santiago de Compostela, in northern Spain, on Thursday evening when he made the threats just as the plane was preparing to land at around 8.30pm.

The man rose from his seat and ran down the aisle shouting “there’s a bomb! It’s going to explode!” according to local newspaper El Correo Gallego.

Several passengers confirmed that the man said “I’m going to detonate a bomb because they won’t serve me beer.”

“Yesterday Ryanair Flight 1123 from Tenerife Sur to Santiago requested the activation of the local alert in Santiago airport because of an incident on board,” a spokesman for Spanish airport operator Aena told The Local on Friday. 

“The alert was activated and when the flight landed at 21.23 it was met by National Police and Guardia Civil. The alert was deactivated at 21.50,” the spokesman confirmed. 

The plane landed in an area of Santiago airport away from the terminal for “security reasons” and the man was met by firefighters and agents from Spain’s Civil Guard and National Police. 

Half way through the flight, the middle-aged man, who was “visibly agitated” according to reports in regional newspaper La Voz de Galicia, threatened to detonate a bomb if they did not serve him beer.

Fellow passengers looked shaken and emotional on arrival in Santiago, where the plane was met by police and firefighters after its pilot radioed ahead about the incident.

The plane was surrounded by police and passengers were told to stay in their seats while the man’s suitcase was located and checked for explosives. Soon after, the man was arrested by agents from Spain's Civil Guard. 

“The crew of this flight from Tenerife to Santiago requested police assistance upon landing at Santiago, after a passenger became disruptive in-flight, who was removed and detained by police.” Ryanair confirmed in a statement to The Local on Friday. 

“We will not tolerate unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time and the safety and comfort of our customers, crew and aircraft is our number one priority. This is now a matter for local police.”