need to know
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On December 1, a flight was forced to make an emergency landing due to the disruptive behavior of a passenger.
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One passenger allegedly asked to sit next to his girlfriend, the Associated Press reported. When his request was denied, the situation escalated
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Witnesses said the altercation lasted for two hours after taking off from Tokyo Narita Airport
A plane passenger reportedly asked him to sit next to his girlfriend on the plane on Monday night. After the crew refused his request, the passenger allegedly continued to argue, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.
The incident occurred on Japan’s Spring Airlines flight IJ005, which was originally scheduled to fly from Japan’s Narita International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport on December 1.
The man allegedly complained to crew members about his seat as he boarded the flight, according to the Associated Press. He reportedly wanted to switch seats with the passenger sitting next to his partner, but he refused. The flight attendant then explained that he had to sit in his assigned seat during the approximately 3 hours of light exposure.
The outlet reported that the passenger’s erratic behavior continued after the plane took off at 7 p.m. Witnesses said the argument lasted for nearly two hours after takeoff.
The plane’s pilot ultimately decided to make an emergency landing in response to the situation. They turned around and spent two hours returning to Narita.
“There was no announcement or discussion about the matter beforehand. All we heard was an announcement that the flight was returning because someone was obstructing the crew,” one passenger told The Associated Press.
They added: “At that point, we were only 30 minutes away from landing in Shanghai. It was very frustrating. He could have settled in so everyone could get to their destination.”
A video captured by a passenger on the plane showed a confrontation between crew and disruptive passengers. A video shows police boarding the plane after landing at Narita Airport.
According to the Associated Press, the plane made an emergency landing at around 11 p.m. local time. Police then boarded the man and removed him from his seat. However, it is unclear whether he will face any charges.
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Other passengers on board were reportedly held overnight until an alternative flight was offered at 10am the next day. The Associated Press said some travelers were sleeping on benches and chairs around the airport.
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Local media reported that Japan’s Spring Airlines compensated each passenger 10,000 yen (approximately $64) for the inconvenience.
Representatives for Japan’s Spring Airlines did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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