Passengers Storm Tarmac in France Over Flight Delay

A dramatic scene unfolded at Marseille-Provence Airport on Saturday evening as dozens of frustrated passengers took matters into their own hands and stormed the tarmac. They were attempting to prevent their Ryanair flight from departing without them, following significant delays caused by border control issues.

Flight FR2640 Grounded by Passenger Protest

The incident centered around flight FR2640, scheduled to leave for Marrakesh at 10:30 PM but ultimately delayed by over three hours. More than 80 passengers were caught in a bottleneck at border control, preventing them from reaching their gate on time. As the scheduled departure time passed, a group of passengers breached security and ran onto the runway, confronting the aircraft directly.

Confrontation on the Runway

Footage shows passengers shouting at airport staff and the pilot, attempting to physically block the plane’s movement. The pilot leaned out of the cockpit window as passengers voiced their frustration. One passenger exclaimed, 'It's not good, it's not good,' reflecting the urgency of the situation.

Another video depicts a woman passionately gesturing and shouting on the runway, surrounded by other travelers positioned in front of the aircraft.

Arrest and Delayed Departure

Authorities confirmed that one woman was arrested on suspicion of tampering with fire safety systems to gain access to the runway. The Ryanair jet eventually took off around 1:50 AM, leaving a number of registered passengers stranded at the airport.

Investigation and Increased Travel Disruptions

Airport officials have characterized the incident as 'exceptionally rare' and launched a full inquiry. Ryanair cited operational requirements as a factor in proceeding with the flight despite the missing passengers.

This incident occurs amid increasing travel disruptions across Europe. Millions of British travelers have been warned to anticipate lengthy queues at border control in ten major airports due to the recent implementation of the Entry-Exit System (EES) on April 10th.

New Border Control System Causes Delays

The EES requires non-EU travelers to register biometric data, including fingerprints and facial recognition images, when entering the Schengen Area. This is expected to significantly slow down processing times, particularly during peak seasons. Airports anticipated to be heavily affected include Copenhagen, Madrid-Barajas, and Malaga.

This event follows a separate incident involving a Ryanair flight from Madrid to Ibiza, where a drunk passenger disrupted the flight, forcing it to return to the gate.