On February 12, 2024, two Romanian passengers were removed from a Wizz Air flight scheduled to travel from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg to Bucharest, amid heightened tensions following a false bomb threat.
The flight, originally set to take off early Tuesday, encountered significant delays, lasting nearly three hours due to security alerts. Reports indicate this was not the first incident involving bomb threats at this airport. The EuroAirport has faced at least three false alarms within the year, leading to evacuations and extensive delays for travelers.
The alarm sounded as passengers were preparing to board, with the airport authorities swiftly taking precautionary measures to evacuate certain areas. Approximately 30 passengers were affected, unable to complete security checks or board the plane initially. About 160 others boarded the flight and awaited departure.
Determined to proceed with the flight, the airline's crew encountered issues once the plane was finally ready to take off. During the lengthy delay, two Romanian passengers reportedly engaged in disruptive behavior. One individual was caught smoking marijuana inside the airplane's bathroom, raising alarms among the crew. The second passenger, who was described by witnesses as intoxicated but not belligerent, was said to be loud yet compliant.
Witness accounts detail the uncomfortable environment within the aircraft after nearly three hours of waiting. One passenger, identifying as a witness to the incident, stated, "I believe it was abuse, at least in the second case. It was clear there was tension on the plane; we had been there for nearly three hours, but the man who was removed did nothing to endanger others' safety. He smelled of alcohol but was joking and was not offensive."
The crew decided to call the police to manage the situation. Upon their arrival, both Romanian passengers were escorted from the aircraft without resisting. According to Swiss journalists covering the incident, "The flight was grounded for three hours, and people started to lose patience. The flight attendants called the police, and the two Romanians were escorted off the plane, but they did not resist.”
The tension within the cabin reportedly contributed to the airline crew's decision-making process, reflecting the impacts of the earlier bomb threat on passengers' behavior and the subsequent responses required by flight staff. The authorities, after calming the situation, allowed the flight to continue, though it resulted in significant delays.
Officials from Wizz Air have yet to issue statements concerning the incident, leaving some questions unanswered about procedural responses to passenger behavior, particularly following security alerts. The events at the EuroAirport serve as both a reminder of the potential disruptions caused by bomb threats and the challenges airlines face when responding to unruly behavior amid high-tension scenarios.
The removal of the two Romanian passengers from the Wizz Air flight reflects broader concerns about air travel safety, particularly the need for vigilant enforcement of passenger conduct and the quick response of airline authorities to periodically arising incidents. With travel remaining contentious due to past threats and incidents, both airline staff and passengers find themselves negotiating the tricky balance between safety and personal behavior onboard.