Drunken Russian passenger starts brawl on Belavia's plane

Belavia's plane on the flight from Moscow to Minsk had to return to Domodedovo Airport.

“Belavia's plane flying from Moscow to Minsk returned to Domodedovo airport,” deputy director general of Belavia company Ihar Charhinets said Thursday to Interfax-West news agency.

He said it was done due to a drunken Russian passenger.

“The drunken traveller was restrained by passengers. The plane returned to Domodedovo Airport. The police are working over the incident. The plane will take off again in the nearest time,” Charhinets said.

A source in the Russian air traffic control service reports that the plane took off at 10:20 (Moscow time) and landed back at 10:50 after “the crew captain made a decision on emergency landing due to a drunken passenger's unruly behaviour”.

The source said the man had caused a brawl. “There was a brawl on the plane. The instigator was detained and handed over to the police,” he said.

The press service of the Transport Department of the Russian Interior Ministry for the Central Federal District confirmed the information. “The brawler has been taken to the police station at the airport to clear out details of the incident,” a press service officer said.