Plane fans attack 'huge overreaction'

The incident sparked an expensive security alert

Angry Celtic fans have criticised the emergency landing of their plane at Cardiff airport as a "terrifying and unbelievable" overreaction.

Six fans were arrested when the flight back from a match in Spain was diverted to Cardiff after a mayday call amid reports of fighting.

The situation on board was at one point described as a near riot, and two RAF helicopters were mobilised along with police, fire and ambulances.

It was an absolute farce, we didn't know why we were landing and where we were landing

Pat Coogan
Passenger

But fans said the extent of the trouble was a row over a small group of fans who had been smoking in the plane's toilet and denied allegations two female members of the cabin crew had been assaulted.

Fans said the "terrifying" descent of the plane on Friday afternoon led many to believe it was going to crash.

Most of the plane's 148 passengers completed their return journey to Glasgow from a Uefa cup clash with Spanish side Celta Vigo by coach, arriving about 0700 GMT on Saturday.

David McKenna, 40, who was the first to disembark from a coach, held up a piece of paper reading "not guilty".

'No announcement'

He said: "They certainly overreacted. Nothing happened on that flight. It is just unbelievable, we never expected this."

The fans alleged their plane had engine problems going out of Glasgow and Spain, and that about an hour and a half into the journey it had nose-dived and stewards were running around like "maniacs".

John McGinn, 65, of Glasgow, added: "The pilot made no announcement whatsoever.

Fans deny crew members were assaulted

"We thought the plane was coming down."

Another passenger, Ryan Kerr, 26, said: "Everyone was in good spirits and having a laugh.

"The first time we knew there was something wrong was when everyone was told to put on their seatbelts and the plane nose-dived.

"Because we had engine problems earlier, I thought there was something wrong with the plane and we were going down. It was terrifying."

Mr Kerr added: "No one told us where we had landed - it was only when I saw the sign saying welcome to Cardiff Airport, that I knew where we were."

Mr Kerr said the mayday call had been the "biggest waste of taxpayers' money".

Fans admitted at least two passengers had been caught smoking in the toilets on the Boeing, operated by Gatwick-based chartered airline Astraeus.

'Absolutely nothing'

Pat Coogan, 50, also said there had been a "massive overreaction" by cabin crew and the pilot.

"Nothing happened, absolutely nothing," he said.

"It was an absolute farce, we didn't know why we were landing and where we were landing.

"The pilot must have pulled his throttle back suddenly.

"The lady beside me took a panic attack - everyone was just terrified."