Ibiza airport was the scene of an unusual incident this midday, when a passenger on an Iberia Express flight bound for Madrid unleashed chaos by activating the emergency evacuation ramp. La Voz de Ibiza has had access to exclusive videos capturing the moments after the event, provided by a witness who was on board.
A delay that ignited tension
The flight, scheduled to take off at 1:30 p.m., was delayed for unclear reasons. During the wait, the engines were shut down for refueling, leaving passengers without air conditioning. This caused an increase in cabin temperature, intensifying the discomfort of the passengers. In this context, one man began to show signs of extreme nervousness, declaring in a loud voice: “This is a full-fledged hijacking! I’m disembarking right now!”. These words, as witnesses told La Voz de Ibiza, generated an atmosphere of uneasiness among the rest of the passengers, who also began to get nervous.
A nervous passenger activates the emergency ramp on an Ibiza-Madrid flight and ends up detained.
An unexpected act and the intervention of the Civil Guard
Faced with growing tension, the crew requested the intervention of the Civil Guard. When the agents arrived at the scene, the passenger, visibly upset, made a decision that surprised everyone: he pressed the emergency button, activating the evacuation ramp and deploying it in the middle of the runway. The act caused an additional 45-minute delay in takeoff and completely blocked the aircraft’s operability, forcing the airline to take additional measures to ensure safety and resume operations. In the videos provided by a witness, we can see the moments after the event, where some passengers try to calm down after the unexpected incident. The records reflect the widespread disquiet caused by the passenger’s screams and subsequent intervention.
Consequences of the incident
The man was arrested by Guardia Civil officers and taken to police headquarters. He now faces charges of disorderly conduct and damage to the aircraft, in addition to possible significant financial penalties. The crew informed passengers that, due to the ramp deployment, the aircraft would be grounded, forcing the flight to be rescheduled and leaving dozens of people temporarily stranded at the airport.
