An Edelweiss flight from Zurich to Tanzania was forced to turn back to the gate on Saturday due to two unruly passengers who refused to follow the crew’s instructions. The incident occurred shortly before take-off, and the police were called to intervene. The Airbus A350, carrying 306 passengers, had already taxied to the runway when the problem arose, but returned to the gate at 10:33 am. The two disruptive passengers, a woman and her husband, were handed over to the Zurich cantonal police, and the woman was arrested.
The incident caused a significant delay, with the flight ultimately taking off two hours behind schedule at 11:37 am. The delay also affected connecting flights to Zanzibar and back to Zurich. The Edelweiss spokesperson, Andreas Marti, confirmed that the crew had followed standard procedures in dealing with the unruly passengers.
This incident is not an isolated case, as the number of incidents involving unruly travelers has been increasing worldwide. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an incident was recorded on one in 395 flights in 2024, which is a significant increase from previous years. Similar cases have also occurred in Zurich this year, involving flights from Easyjet, Finnair, and Swiss.
The rise in unruly passenger incidents has become a concern for airlines and aviation authorities, highlighting the need for stricter measures to ensure passenger safety and prevent such incidents. The Edelweiss flight incident serves as an example of the challenges faced by airlines in dealing with difficult passengers and the importance of following standard procedures to maintain order and safety on board. The incident has also resulted in the woman being reported to the relevant authorities, and it is likely that she will face further action.