Passenger causes two hour delay after being dragged off flight for 'vaping in toilets'

A young male passenger sparked a two-hour flight delay after he was escorted off a plane by six police officers for allegedly vaping in the toilet. The 21-year-old was removed after being accused of committing the aviation offence after a smoke alarm alerted the crew.

The incident took place at Edinburgh Airport on a Ryanair aircraft which had been due to depart for Alicante in Spain on July 3. Passenger Tristan James Walker captured footage of the incident of the moment officers swooped on the airliner after Mr Walker said smoke alarms sounded. Mr Walker, 39, said the flight was set to depart at 9.45am on July 3, but it was delayed due to staff sickness. He said during the delay an alert sounded indicating someone was smoking in a toilet. He said over six officers boarded the aircraft to remove the man who was taken into a van.

Mr Walker told Luxury Travel Daily: "A young lad in a group happened to set the alarm off for apparently vaping. The pilot then came out after the air-stewardess explained what happened and then the pilot stated he would be removed from the plane.

"The young lad waited for over six police officers to come on board. He was taken off, he was very calm, didn't argue or anything, no drama.

"We then happened to bump into him on Benidorm's famous strip and he told us he just got a caution and was banned from Ryanair."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 7.55 am on Thursday, 3 July, 2025 were called to an aircraft at Edinburgh Airport.

"Officers attended and a 21-year-old man was charged in connection with an aviation offence. A report was submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."

A spokesperson for Ryanair told Express.co.uk: "The crew of this flight from Edinburgh to Alicante (3 July) called ahead for police assistance prior to departure after a passenger became disruptive onboard. This passenger was offloaded before this flight continued to Alicante.

"Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a safe and respectful environment, without unnecessary disruption.

"This is a matter for local police."