Passenger attacks Ryanair employee over hand luggage dispute at Palma Airport

The incident reportedly escalated quickly during check-in for a Ryanair flight to Madrid, leaving staff and passengers shaken

According to local reports, a passenger at Palma de Mallorca airport got into a violent confrontation with a Ryanair employee at the check-in desk over hand luggage rules. The worker suffered serious injuries, even losing several teeth, while the passenger also hurt himself during the altercation. Authorities detained the passenger, and both were taken for medical attention.

The incident happened during the check-in for Ryanair flight FR2062 to Madrid. Airport sources say the situation escalated quickly after staff told the passenger that his luggage did not meet the required measurements. What started as a disagreement reportedly turned into shouting, pushing, and then physical violence. The passenger punched the employee in the face multiple times and headbutted him, causing visible injuries and leaving other travellers and staff in shock.

Airport security and the Guardia Civil arrived quickly to control the situation. Passengers were filming on their phones, and the check-in area was chaotic until the authorities restored order. The flight was delayed while the area was cleaned and normal service resumed.

Staff at airports deal with disputes over luggage and other rules every day. But these rules, while strict, have been in place for years and are well known to passengers, so why do they still cause this type of violent reaction? Passengers can be a bit more on edge at the airport, but there is no excuse for reacting with violence. Even when the rules feel frustrating, it’s important to remember that employees are just doing their jobs. 

Low-cost airlines can sometimes be made out to look like the baddies, but it’s their staff who end up paying the price. Really, we just need to follow the rules and enjoy our cheap flight like most passengers do. Acting aggressively doesn’t solve anything, it only puts yourself, staff, and fellow travellers at risk. At the end of the day, nobody wants to see someone seriously injured, or have their flight delayed because a situation got out of control.

Images: Archive