Man tasered at Gatwick admitted to psychiatric unit

A man who was tasered on a plane at Gatwick has been admitted to a psychiatric unit.
Generic image of easyJet planeGeneric image of easyJet plane
Generic image of easyJet plane

Sussex Police was called shortly after 8am yesterday (August 20) to reports of a passenger becoming increasingly abusive following a dispute over hand luggage.

A police spokesman said the man, 37, from Belfast, was tasered during his arrest in the interests of the safety of the passengers, crew and the man on the easyJet flight to Belfast.

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The spokesman said: “He was arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace and obstructing/resisting a constable in the execution of their duty.

“He was taken into custody, but on Thursday evening, following examination by doctors, he was detained under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act for admission into a psychiatric unit for further assessment and treatment in the interest of his own health, safety and protection of others.”

The aircraft left and police took statements from witnesses among the crew and passengers.

An easyJet spokesperson has said: “easyJet can confirm that police boarded flight EZY831 from London Gatwick to Belfast on August 20 due to a passenger behaving disruptively.

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“easyJet’s cabin crew are highly trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time.

“Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously, do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour on-board and always push for prosecution.

“The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always easyJet’s priority.”

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