Two rowdy Brits have been arrested in Spain for refusing to put on their face masks whilst on a flight from Tenerife and ignoring even the pilot’s plea.
The plane was on its way to Madrid when the trouble broke out, fuellled by alcohol, according to other distressed passengers, who said the men were repeatedly walking up and down the isle to the toilets while waving.
The flight from Tenerife to Madrid was being operated by Iberia which alerted the Civil Guard as they approached the Spanish capital, and Police were waiting at the airport in Madrid where both men were escorted off.
The incident has been widely reported by the Spain’s media, including 20minutos.es which published a short video showing three air stewards walking down the aisle of the packed plane to speak to two men.
Masks are mandatory on flights to stop the spread of coronavirus and it appears that all the passengers are wearing them, although you video does not show two Brits alleged to be involved.
The stewards are seen leaning over to talk to two passengers sitting next to each other and then waving their hands in the air. No conversation is audible but you can hear the voices of young children.
In a short video shared by 20minutos.es, flight attendants on the flight from Tenerife to Madrid were seen talking with the two British passengers refusing to wear masks. The crew then told them to sit at the back of the plane, and were arrested on their arrival in the Spanish capital
According to other people on the flight, the two men had been making a nuisance of themselves, walking up and down the plane without masks and seemingly under the influence of alcohol.
One passenger told 20minutos.es: ‘Some of the passengers asked to be separated or to be seated in another place.’
The Brits were told repeatedly to put on their masks by the steward and, at one stage, the pilot also left the cockpit to talk to them but they still refused.
It is mandatory for passengers to wear masks on flights to help stop the spread of the coronavirus in the close proximity of plane cabins. Pictured: British citizens arrive at the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport wearing masks
They were said to have repeatedly walked up and down the aisle to go to the toilet, wearing face masks around their necks and ‘waving’ at other passengers.
During the flight, because of the commotion being caused, the two men were re-seated at the back of the plane.
According to another Spanish newspaper, their ‘demeanor on flight IB3229 was rather unpleasant and not very exemplary. They were disturbing the other passengers throughout the trip.
‘Their shouting caused discomfort to others, who could not rest or simply be calm for the time that the flight lasted.’
Rising in cases in Europe have in-part been blamed on increased levels of tourism. Pictured: people walk along the beach wearing face masks in Tenerieffe
Yesterday, Spain recorded 7,039 new cases, 6,671 on Wednesday and 5,114 on Tuesday. The country also saw 167 new coronavirus deaths across the three day
When the plane touched down at Madrid airport, the two Brits were warned not to get off until the Civil Guard arrived and boarded the plane. They were then arrested and escorted off.
Witness statements were taken from those on board. The two men are facing fines for refusing to wear a mask and possible public disorder.
The incident has prompted a huge reaction on social media, with people saying they should never have been allowed on board in the first place if they appeared to have been drinking too much.
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Iberia has been asked for an official comment about the circumstances but on its website, the airline makes it perfectly clear that all the coronavirus safety regulations have to be respected, including the obligatory wearing of masks.
Yesterday, Italy registered 845 new cases on Thursday, its highest daily tally since May, while France’s 4,771 fresh infections was a colossal increase on Wednesday’s 3,776 (pictured: a graph of the rolling 7-day average)
Coronavirus cases have continued to rise in Europe over the last week.
Today, France recorded another sharp rise is coronavirus cases yesterday with 4,700 infections – up by a thousand – while Italy has seen its highest daily tally since May.
There have also been worrying spikes in Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Croatia – much of it blamed on holidaying Europeans and youngsters enjoying parties in the summer heatwave.
Yesterday, Spain recorded 7,039 new cases, 6,671 on Wednesday and 5,114 on Tuesday. The country also saw 167 new coronavirus deaths across the three day.
Italy registered 845 new cases on Thursday, its highest figure for three months, while France’s 4,771 fresh infections was a colossal increase on Wednesday’s 3,776.
Britons were scrambling to return home from Croatia and Austria last night after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps declared that anyone arriving from the countries must self-isolate for 14 days.
British Airways economy flights from Zagreb to London are up at £276 today compared to £82 on Monday.
Residents and tourists go for a walk on seaside in La Concha beach, in San Sebastian, Basque Country, northern Spain, 19 August 2020
Around 20,000 British tourists are thought to be in Croatia.
In Vienna its a similar story, £482 to Heathrow compared to £109 for the same route on Sunday.
The Scottish Government has also announced that Switzerland is being added to its quarantine list.
Weekly coronavirus cases in Croatia have increased by more than 179 percent from 7.8 per 100,000 to 21.5 per 100,000.
In Austria, it’s a 79.5 percent increase on the previous week from 8 per 100,000 to 14.4 per 100,000.
And in Switzerland – another nexus of European tourism – weekly cases have increased by 54.6 percent in the last week, from 11.1 per 100,000 to 17.2 per 100,000.
Germany is also experiencing an increase of 26.1% on last week, with particular concern in Berlin where the contagion is soaring wildly after overcrowding in its parks during the heat.
Much of the rise has been blamed on returning holidaymakers as well as summer parties and family gatherings.
The latest figures, from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases, bring to 228,621 the number of infections in the country since the start of the pandemic.
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