FLYING HEADBUTT
Shock moment ‘drunk’ passenger HEADBUTTS air steward in posh business class Emirates flight before crew tie him to seat
Horrified passengers revealed they were terrified by what ensued
THIS is the shocking moment a passenger headbutted an air steward on an Emirates flight out of Dubai.
Fellow passengers allege that the man got so intoxicated in his business class cabin that he started being violent.
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The horrified passengers recalled how cabin crew staff on flight EK614 to Islamabad, Pakistan, tried to restrain the unruly man.
But the video shows how he violently headbutted one of the male air stewards - before he was finally restrained.
The camera catches another cabin crew member rushing to the steward's help and the pair are able to wrestle him to the ground.
As the two cabin crew attempt to keep the man pinned to the ground, a third member of staff runs over with a pair of emergency black cable ties - kept onboard to deal with problematic passengers.
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One air steward can then be seen forcibly keeping the man lying flat on the ground, while the other attaches the cuffs.
Other passengers have reported that the man was restrained in his seat with cabin crew watching over him until the Boeing 777 landed.
Pakistani airport police boarded the flight at 1:20am, local time, to arrest him.
A few passengers said that they were "terrified" by the rampage and avoided walking past the flier out of fear that he would attack them.
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One passenger said: "The drunk guy was extremely violent. He was restrained and handcuffed by Emirates cabin crew but I think Pakistan authorities let him go as he was well connected."
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A spokesperson for Emirates said: “Emirates can confirm that there was an unruly passenger on flight EK614 travelling from Dubai to Islamabad on 24 February.
"The passenger was restrained by cabin crew and upon arrival, was handed over to the authorities.
"The safety of our passengers and crew is of critical importance and Emirates strives to ensure this is never compromised.
"Emirates is cooperating with the authorities at this time and cannot comment further.”
Alcohol is banned in Pakistan for Muslim residents - a law which is alleged to have led many citizens to binge drinking abroad.
Although the UAE is a similarly strict Islamic country, it has become more tolerant than its neighbours in recent years.
Amid its rise as a travel destination for Westerners, the laws have changed to allow anyone over the age of 21 to buy alcohol.
Drinks are only allowed to be consumed in private, or in licenced venues, but they are available inside Dubai International Airport and in bars and restaurants throughout the city.
According to the Civil Aviation Act, however, nobody can enter an aircraft when drunk, or become drunk in any aircraft.
Airlines reserve the right to refuse passengers that they deem a potential risk - which includes anyone who is drunk.
And, if an aircraft commander has grounds to believe that a passenger is a risk, they are entitled to take any reasonable measure to protect safety.
Yet, drunken, mid-air brawls have become an increasing occurence over the last year - and particularly in February of this year.
On February 19, a terrifying brawl erupted on a Ryanair flight from Edinburgh to Tenerife.
Fellow passengers said they endured hours of chaos after two men, who are understood to be brothers, and a woman began shouting at each other.
A man in the blue top was filmed storming up the aisle of the plane and squaring up to the second man in the grey.
They both appeared to shout at anyone who tried to intervene and stop them.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: "The crew of this flight from Edinburgh to Tenerife (19 Feb) called ahead for police assistance after a small number of passengers became disruptive onboard.
"The aircraft was met by local police upon arrival at Tenerife and these passengers were removed. This is now a matter for local police."
And just a day later, on February 20, a man on an American Airlines flight had to be restrained after he reportedly tried to open an emergency door mid-air.
The Wonton Don () said he was sleeping in his seat when he was stirred awake "by a man trying to aggressively open the airplane door 4 rows back."
"Me and 5 other dudes had to wrestle him into the aisle, duct tape his legs, and throw flexi-cuffs on him."
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American Airlines told The U.S. Sun, "Flight 1219 with service from Albuquerque (ABQ) to Chicago (ORD) returned to ABQ shortly after takeoff due to a disturbance in the cabin involving a disruptive customer.
"The flight landed safely and the aircraft was met by local law enforcement upon arrival."
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