A flight packed with Conor McGregor fans headed to Las Vegas to watch the Irish MMA fighter face off against Jose Aldo this weekend had to divert back to New York after a drunken brawl broke out.
The Jet Blue flight was just 25 minutes into its five-and-a-half hour journey when the physical altercation between two male passengers forced the pilot to return to JFK airport.
JetBlue 611, New York-Las Vegas, has returned to JFK due to an unruly passenger. https://t.co/KIxrmA7R2k #B6611 pic.twitter.com/JdKOJ8yqSI
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) December 11, 2015
There are an estimated 10,000 Irish fans traveling to Las Vegas to watch McGregor and Aldo face off for the UFC 194 featherweight unification title.
After returning to JFK, where the two passengers were extracted from the plane by police, the flight resumed its course for Vegas.
The fight was in fact the second time in the flight’s duration that unruly behavior caused a delay. Before take-off, another Irish passenger kept interrupting the safety procedure instructions to chant “Ole Ole!” and had to be escorted off the plane, causing the flight to lose its place in line for take off.
As Damien Coyne, one of the frustrated passengers, vented on Facebook, “Seriously pissed off here. Got delayed at JFK because every time the flight attendant tried to read out the safety procedures onboard the aircraft this drunk Irish fella kept singing Ole Ole Ole & Oggy oggy oggy.
"So flight crew call the cops and your man gets escorted off the plane. [Cause] we missed our cue to set off we had to taxi on the runway for ages before we got a slot to take off.
"Then we eventually get going, about 25 mins into a 5 and a half hour flight, these other two Irish lads start kicking off at each other.
"Got very heated and one guy despite everyone on the plane shouting at him to sit down, struck out and threw a few slaps at the other lad.
"Flight crew go mad, separate the two fellas and now we are on our way back to JFK again!”
He vented his frustrations, adding "I've been travelling since 10am Irish time yesterday morning to get to Vegas. Now unfortunately for me and a whole packed plane we are all gonna be affected by a few drunk fools. Ruining it for themselves and for everyone else.
"Not to mention the fact that these fellas will probably spend a night or two in jail now & miss the fight altogether.
But he did highlight a takeaway from the whole experience. "Moral of the story here lads, drink by all means and have a good time! But know the one that's one too many, and look out for each other!!"
Good man, Damien.
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