Drunk man stabs fellow passenger mid-air on British Airways flight

In an alarmingly disruptive incident, a man smashed a wine bottle and stabbed another passenger onboard a British Airways(BA) flight to the Caribbean. The passengers expressed their dissatisfaction and anger with the airline's handling of the same.

British Airways Boeing 777 Passenger Attacked With Broken Wine Bottle In Flight

A fight broke out between two passengers aboard a @British_Airways flight. As the brawl escalated, one passenger used glass shards from a broken wine bottle to repeatedly slash... (1/4)#Aviation pic.twitter.com/IL5XhDtSXl

— Simple Flying (@simple_flying) July 5, 2023

Witnesses claimed that the airline provided the rogue passenger and his friends with excessive alcohol and failed to intervene when they harassed female passengers on board. The shocking chaos occurred during a flight from London Gatwick to St Lucia's Hewanorra International Airport (Vieux Fort) and left passengers shaken and outraged.

Party onboard

• Passengers alleged that a large group of men spent several hours loudly partying and consuming unlimited alcohol provided by the BA crew.
• They further claimed that these individuals approached many female passengers, subjecting them to harassment and unwanted physical contact, on the pretext of chatting.
• Despite seeing these unfold, the BA crew allegedly did not intervene, exacerbating the tense atmosphere on the plane.
• As the group blocked the aisle, passengers were also reportedly prevented from accessing the rear lavatories for a few hours, contributing to their discomfort.

Brawl erupts

• Approximately an hour and 20 minutes before landing at St Lucia, a heated argument between a passenger and the ruckus creator turned physical, plunging the flight into chaos.

Chaos In The Air - This Bucket hat individual in a British Airways flight 2159 from Gatwick to St Lucia stabbed two passengers with a broken bottle due to an escalated brawl .While both were treated later at the hospital,police arrested the individual on arrival.#flight #safety pic.twitter.com/ypbpGe8mKB

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) July 5, 2023

• The aggressor, a man from St Lucia wearing a bucket hat and spectacles, allegedly broke a bottle in the galley before returning to his seat and using the jagged edges to stab the other passenger.
• One more passenger sustained injuries from the broken glass during the scuffle.
• Bloodstains, broken glass, and scattered shards reveal the severity of the altercation. The Sun received photos showcasing the harrowing ordeal witnessed by horrified passengers on Flight BA2159 to a picturesque Caribbean destination.
• Despite the disturbance, the pilots were compelled to continue the flight to St Lucia's Hewanorra International Airport.

BA'S negligence

• Passengers onboard have criticised BA staff for ignoring the unruly behaviour of the group of men and continuing to serve them alcohol.
• The crew allegedly failed to address the harassment of female passengers by the aggressor, leading to disappointment among the passengers.
• Witnesses claim that the BA flight crew allowed the group to block access to lavatories and engage in excessive drinking, contributing to a volatile atmosphere.
• According to The Sun, one female passenger recounted feeling extremely uncomfortable even before the assaults occurred, blaming BA for their lack of intervention.

Subsequent response

• As the altercation unfolded, several passengers and crew members courageously intervened to stop the assailant after he had stabbed his victim.
• However, not before the unarmed passenger sustained significant cuts and blood was splattered across the cabin. A co-passenger, from St Lucia, who tried to break the fight, also suffered a severe cut and received medical treatment from a nurse onboard.
• Following the incident, the man responsible for the assaults was confined to a specific area of the B777 until landing.
• Upon landing, paramedics and police officers walked into the aircraft to transfer the injured passengers to a hospital. The assailant was subsequently escorted out of the plane by the Royal St Lucia Police Force.

Investigation and BA's response

• Authorities in St Lucia have launched an investigation into the incident, acknowledging the seriousness of the matter.
• British Airways has expressed shock and gratitude towards the conduct of the cabin crew and support for the passengers in managing the difficult situation.

• As of now, the identities of the individuals involved have not been disclosed as the attacker stays in police custody.