SIX local Arsenal fans were rejected from an Aurigny flight as they attempted to return from the UK. The airline has condemned the supporters, who delayed the flight from Gatwick.
And it warns others that it has a zero-tolerance policy about such behaviour.
The Gunners fans were on their way back from the top-of-the-table lunchtime clash with Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on Saturday.
But their behaviour meant they were forced to spend the night in the UK instead of flying home.
Sussex Police were first alerted to the rowdiness of the five men and one woman wearing Arsenal shirts at about 8.45pm.
‘The flight was due to board but the captain was not happy to take on some of the passengers,’ said a police spokesman.
Some of the group were offloaded from the plane and others kept in departures.
‘They said they had not been drinking at the airport and had come from the Arsenal game and so there was no licensing issue at the airport.’
Sussex Police confirmed last night that no arrests or charges were made.
Aurigny said that two men had been escorted from the departure lounge and a further four passengers from the plane itself.
It confirmed the incident had been drink-fuelled.
‘There are strict guidelines when incidents of this nature take place on aircraft. We have a zero-tolerance attitude,’ said Aurigny managing director Malcolm Hart.
‘We know who these people are and they will be far from welcome in the future. We would like to apologise to any of our passengers affected by the incident and thank them for their patience.’
Guernsey Airport director Colin Le Ray confirmed yesterday that extensions had been granted that night to allow aircraft to land.
He said it was primarily as a result of technical delays earlier in the day when an Aurigny plane had developed engine problems and had to return to Gatwick. But he also said that a later aircraft was running behind schedule because of the incident.
‘Some passengers were offloaded at Gatwick,’ said Mr Le Ray.
That aircraft arrived in Guernsey shortly after 10.30pm.
Aurigny confirmed that it would foot the bill for the airport’s late opening because it was already off schedule.
Mr Le Ray said that extensions were ‘fairly common’, normally for technical or weather reasons.
It is not believed that Guernsey Police were involved in the incident.
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