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It began with a red light. It ended with two taxi drivers needing medical attention, one vehicle with €400 worth of dents, and a British tourist in handcuffs. The incident at Palma de Mallorca Airport last Tuesday night was, by any measure, a spectacular overreaction to being told off for crossing the road.

 

According to the Policía Nacional, a group of passengers crossed a pedestrian crossing while the light was red for pedestrians. A taxi driver in the arrivals area saw what was happening and called out to the group about their behaviour. One of them took particular exception to this. Rather than shrugging it off, he chased the taxi, caught up with it while it was still moving and wrenched open the passenger door, hitting himself in the process.

 

The driver stopped and got out to see what was going on. He was punched hard in the face and knocked to the ground.

 

A second taxi driver saw what had happened and went to help his colleague. He was punched in the chest and abdomen for his trouble. His vehicle also took a hit, ending up with dents on the bonnet, front door and left front wing, with the damage estimated at more than €400.

 

A third driver, along with several bystanders, stepped in and managed to restrain the tourist until airport security arrived. Officers were on the scene shortly after, by which point security personnel already had the man pinned to the ground.

 

"Officers were alerted via an emergency call that a tourist had assaulted a taxi driver at the airport," a police spokesperson said. "Upon their arrival, they were approached by airport security personnel who had restrained the alleged perpetrator on the ground due to his agitated state."

 

Both injured drivers received medical attention. The tourist was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and one count of causing criminal damage, before being brought before a judge.

 

The Policía Nacional have not released the alleged assailant’s name.