A Flybe flight was delayed moments before take-off after a pilot decided it was “unsafe” to fly due to a group of drunk and disorderly passengers.
Police were called to Newcastle International Airport and they went on to remove a group of people, who were reportedly part of a stag party, from the plane which was set to travel to Stansted.
The BBC reports that the delay went on for around five hours after the incident.
Flybe said it took a “zero tolerance” approach to such behaviour on flights.
Northumbria police said: “We were called by airport staff to help remove a group of drunk and disorderly passengers from a plane at Newcastle Airport. The group was escorted off the plane and spoken to.”
In a statement to the BBC, Flybe said: “Flybe sincerely regrets the inconvenience experienced by passengers.
“This resulted from the threatening and overly abusive behaviour exhibited towards the cabin crew immediately prior to departure, initially initiated by four members of a 13-strong stag party.
“As such, and in line with a zero tolerance policy with any form of onboard behaviour that might in any way compromise the safe operation of any flight, the captain reported the situation to the police who took the necessary immediate action.
“All 68 passengers were offloaded and those not involved in the incident were accommodated on an alternative flight.”