Violent passenger who ‘launched a mid-air attack on air crew on a flight from Dubai and had to be put in a headlock by a travelling police officer’ is arrested at Heathrow

A man who allegedly launched a mid-air attack on the crew of a flight from Dubai to London was restrained when a travelling police officer put him in a headlock.

The passenger is said to have become violent during the flight, attacking three members of staff on the Emirates plane before headbutting another.

He was detained on the cabin floor and was arrested by police officers at Heathrow once the flight landed.

It happened on flight EK005, which landed at the airport last night at around 8pm and the alleged attacker is still being questioned by officers at Heathrow Police Station.

Dr Farah Jameel, a passenger on the flight, told the Evening Standard the man was bound with ‘black rope’ after ‘a huge ruckus’.

She said: ‘The guy was pinned down and they had tied him up. His hands, legs, and even someone holding his head.

They even at one point put a surgical face mask on him, I guess to try to stop him biting them. They were wearing gloves as well.

‘It was the second time he had kicked off. There was a police officer on the flight and he put him in a headlock.’

Dr Jameel added the rest of the passengers were ‘freaked out’ by what happened.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they were called to an incident involving a violent passenger and arrested a 30-year-old Dutch male.

The force also confirmed it was not being linked to terrorism.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Shortly after 5.30pm on Sunday, February 14, police at Heathrow Airport were informed of a violent passenger onboard a flight from Dubai expected to arrive Terminal 3 at around 8pm.

‘On landing officers boarded the plane and arrested a 30-year-old male Dutch national on suspicion of common assault.

He was taken off the plane and into custody at Heathrow police station where he remains at this time.

‘The investigation of the incident by Heathrow police is ongoing.’

Emirates also confirmed cabin crew restrained an ‘unruly passenger’ and that he was handed over to the authorities.

Source: dailymail