Passengers on board an EasyJet flight from Lyon to Porto faced a frightening ordeal on Friday evening, when a man in a psychotic state attempted to break into the cockpit shortly after take-off. The incident forced the Airbus A320, operating as flight U24429, to declare an emergency and return to Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport less than an hour after departure.
Vliegtuig met vluchtnummer #U24429 van #Lyon naar #Porto meldt code #squawk7700 en gaat retour Lyon. pic.twitter.com/4Ss2dZ52NQ
— opa van zijl (@ernst83) August 22, 2025
Emergency declared over Lyon skies
The Airbus A320, registered OE-IJL, left Lyon at 6:34 pm, already running an hour behind schedule. Within minutes of take-off, the aircraft stopped its climb at 20,000 feet and the crew broadcast a “squawk 7700” – the universal distress signal. Aviation trackers quickly noted the flight’s unexpected turn back toward Lyon.
By 7:19 pm, just 45 minutes after departure, the aircraft landed safely on runway 35R, escorted by emergency crews on standby. Passengers described the return as swift but unsettling, with the aircraft directed to a remote stand for police and medical teams to intervene.
A disturbing onboard incident
French police later confirmed that the disruption was caused by a 26-year-old Portuguese national, who tried to force his way into the cockpit shortly after take-off. Fellow passengers and cabin crew restrained the man until the aircraft landed.
“Flight EJU4429 from Lyon to Porto returned back to Lyon shortly after take-off due to the behaviour of a passenger onboard. The flight was met by police on arrival and once the passenger was removed by police, the flight continued onto Porto,” EasyJet said in a statement.
Medical examinations revealed that the man was suffering from airsickness combined with an acute psychotic disorder, which left him in a state of delirium. He had not been previously known to the authorities. Following the assessment, he was hospitalised in Lyon for treatment.
Relief but shaken passengers
Although no injuries were reported, passengers described the atmosphere on board as tense and unsettling. A short-haul journey of barely two hours had been transformed into a 45-minute emergency return. The delay extended the travellers’ plans, but most expressed relief at the decisive actions of both passengers and crew.
Once the disruptive individual had been taken into custody, the aircraft was cleared to depart again, continuing its flight to Porto later that same evening.
Rising number of unruly passengers
The EasyJet incident highlights a broader issue within the aviation sector: the rising number of unruly passenger incidents since the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), disruptive events in 2022 occurred at a rate of one per 568 flights, compared to one per 835 flights before the pandemic. This represents a sharp increase in cases ranging from verbal abuse to physical altercations and attempts to interfere with crew duties.
As Travel Tomorrow recently reported, the number of unruly passenger incidents increased post-pandemic, forcing airlines to strengthen measures to deter and manage misconduct. Just this summer, Ryanair introduced new fines of up to €500 for onboard misconduct, marking the first time the airline has imposed direct financial penalties on disruptive travellers.
Industry experts warn that while serious events like attempted cockpit intrusions are rare, the general rise in unruly behaviour places additional pressure on cabin crews and has the potential to disrupt flight safety, like this episode with EasyJet.
