Ryanair passengers 'take plane hostage'

Passengers on a Paris-bound plane frustrated by delays decided to provide their own in-flight entertainment, staging a revolt and helping themselves to the booze trolley.

Police were called after passengers on the Ryanair flight abused staff, refused to accept instructions, and took duty-free products including alcoholic drinks and perfume from trolleys, the Daily Mail reported.

The budget airline plane was travelling from Rabat, Morocco to Paris last Saturday.

The rebellion began when a passenger became seriously ill, causing the plane to divert to Spain.

By the time it took off again it was too late to land in Paris, which has a night-time curfew. The 170 mainly French passengers were told they would instead have to spend the night in Nantes, Western France.

Facing a 24 hour delay on what should have been a two-and-a-half hour flight, furious passengers refused to get off the plane.

A baggage handler said passengers displayed "almost animal and barbaric behaviour towards the plane, the crew and the ground staff."

Cigarettes, food, drinks perfume, and anything of value was taken, while the crew was effectively taken hostage, France's Metronews reported.

But one passenger told the French news outlet: "I am neither a robber nor a hostage-taker. We were tired and annoyed by a mismanaged situation. We were thirsty, hungry and had no information on our fate.

"We compensated ourselves by taking some drinks and food. After seven hours stuck in the plane, instead of two-and-a-half, people needed to eat."

Passengers were provided with overnight hotel accommodation and transferred to Paris by coach the next morning, the airline said.

- © Fairfax NZ News