February 14, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
A routine holiday flight turned into a frightening ordeal at 30,000 feet on February 12, 2026, when Jet2 Flight LS896, en route from Antalya, Turkey to Manchester, UK, was forced to divert and make an unscheduled landing in Brussels, Belgium, after a violent altercation broke out among passengers, British airline officials and eyewitness accounts confirm.
Passengers captured chaotic scenes in video shared on social media showing a fistfight erupting in the aisle, prompting fear and confusion among families and travellers on board. The pilot declared an emergency diversion after crew members were unable to contain the situation, prioritising the safety of all onboard.
According to multiple reports, the incident escalated from hostile behaviour by one passenger earlier in the flight, which reportedly included racially charged comments and aggression after being denied cigarettes by cabin staff. Despite efforts by the flight attendants to calm tensions, the confrontation deteriorated into a full-blown physical fight forcing the pilot to redirect the aircraft to Brussels for the safety of passengers and crew.
After the unscheduled landing, local authorities in Brussels removed two disruptive individuals suspected of involvement in the chaos. In response to the incident, Jet2 issued a stark statement condemning the behaviour as “appalling” and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on disruptive conduct. The airline further announced that both passengers will be banned from flying with Jet2 for life, placing them on its permanent no-fly list.
Jet2 also indicated it plans to seek compensation to recover costs incurred from the diversion a financial burden shared by airlines whenever unscheduled stops are required due to severe in-flight disturbances.
The flight eventually continued to Manchester later that evening after the disruptive individuals were removed, but many passengers described the experience as traumatic, especially for families and children who witnessed the mid-air violence.
The incident highlights growing concerns globally about air rage and unruly passenger behaviour, often linked to alcohol consumption or aggressive conduct issues that airlines and aviation authorities are increasingly focused on addressing to protect the safety and comfort of passengers in flight.