Drunk passenger held after groping crew on flight

A 36-year-old passenger has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting four cabin crew members on a flight from Amsterdam to Malaga, with police waiting on the tarmac when the aircraft landed.

According to officers, the man was drunk and repeatedly ignored seatbelt signs that were on because of turbulence. He is said to have got out of his seat, gone to the front of the plane and demanded more beer from the crew.

The four flight attendants later told police that he groped them, tried to force kisses on them and refused repeated orders to return to his seat. Witnesses described a prolonged episode of insults, humiliation and unwanted touching before other crew members and passengers intervened.

As the situation escalated, air traffic controllers shortened the flight path so the plane could get down as quickly as possible. Police officers met the aircraft after landing and arrested the man.

He was taken to hospital because of what police described as an extreme state of agitation. He has since been released under investigation for four counts of sexual assault and one count of assaulting a police officer.

The investigation is continuing. Neither the airline nor the man’s nationality has been made public.