This is one flight the other passengers won't soon forget. A massive brawl broke out on board, forcing the pilots to land early. Two passengers were escorted off by police.
A flight from the Turkish resort to the UK had to be interrupted after a scuffle between passengers turned into a full-on brawl. The crew called for assistance, leading to an unplanned landing in Belgium.
The plane was heading from Antalya to Manchester but had to change course about three hours into the flight. According to available info, the dispute started between two men, quickly escalating, and other passengers got involved. The aisle was blocked, and the cabin crew had to intervene, reports The New York Times.
Videos of the argument have surfaced online. In one, two men can be seen fighting before other passengers step in. You can hear people urging the men to stop.
A Turkish flight bound for the UK was diverted to Belgium, after a violent altercation erupted between passengers. pic.twitter.com/2VLPme4EPa
— Storyful (@Storyful) February 13, 2026
Witnesses on social media shared that the trouble began shortly after takeoff, according to The Sun. “I just got home from a horrible flight and I'm still shaken, as are many other passengers. Right at the beginning of the flight, a passenger behind us started making racist comments that were quiet enough that others couldn't clearly hear but loud enough for us to catch,” a witness revealed.
The situation escalated further when the crew refused to sell him cigarettes, causing him to become aggressive.
The tension erupted into a physical fight with punches thrown while some passengers tried to break it up. One flight attendant even climbed onto a seat to calm everyone down. Witnesses said one man had the other in a chokehold.
The airline commented on the situation: “Both were escorted off by police in Brussels, and the flight continued to Manchester. We can confirm that these two disruptive passengers will be permanently banned from flying with us, and we will also seek compensation for the costs incurred due to this diverted route.”
