Brits are left stranded in ‘war zone’ conditions for 17 hours after ‘drunk’ couple are caught smoking on Mexico-London flight and force plane to divert

British passengers were left stranded in ‘war zone’ conditions for over 17 hours after a flight was diverted due to a ‘drunk’ couple smoking onboard.

The Gatwick-bound flight from Cancun, Mexico was forced to divert to Bangor International Airport in Maine, U.S. on July 8, where passengers were held overnight.

About an hour after take-off, the captain announced that two passengers were smoking in the toilets, and that if it continued he would have to divert.

After another three-and-a-half hours, they announced that the plane would now be diverting to the United States, landing at 9:28pm local time.

Passengers sat in their seats for another five hours after landing, and after the smokers were taken off the plane.

British passenger Terry Lawrance, 66, said it was like a ‘war zone’, with passengers camped out on rows of airbeds. 

The flight was then abandoned as the original crew were not able to continue the journey due to legal working hours.

As a relief flight was dispatched from the UK to the US, the passengers stayed in a room for hours.

Rows of camp beds as passengers awaited updates on their flight in Bangor, Maine, U.S.

‘It was like a warzone in a lounge – rows and rows of beds,’ Terry said

A flight to take the passengers back to Gatwick ultimately took off at 3pm local time (8pm BST) on Wednesday, July 9, and landed safely.

Videos taken by Terry show rows of beds as passengers awaited updates, whilst another video shows vehicles approaching the plane after touching down in Bangor. 

‘We were there for over 12 hours – it all went pear shaped. Everybody was fed up.

‘In fairness, they started bringing out airbeds, but it was like free-for-all for vultures.

‘It was like a warzone in a lounge – rows and rows of beds. All our luggage was still on the plane whilst we waited,’ he said.

Terry said: ‘After an hour the captain came on and said someone had been smoking in the toilet – he read the riot act and said if it continues, we’d have to divert.

‘About three hours later, around the border with Canada and he came on to let us know that the plane was being diverted to Bangor, Maine.

‘Once we landed, they removed the two passengers,’ he said, describing them as ‘drunk’.

‘The captain then said we’d be getting going again once the paperwork has been done.

‘We were sat on the plane on the ground for five hours – the plane started taxing again and we thought ‘great’ and then they said there was a problem with flight plan, and we have to get off.

‘Next thing, we’re not going anywhere, and we’ve got to stay in this small lounge.’

Passengers in Europe more broadly have been warned they can expect to face the worst ever year for delays at airports over the summers as short-staffed crews contend with surging demand for foreign travel.

British passenger Terry Lawrance, 66, said it was like a ‘war zone’, with passengers camped out on rows of airbeds

Passengers sat on the plane waiting to be taken off. The smokers were quickly removed

One senior EU official told the FT on Wednesday that after the ‘worst summer ever’ for delays and cancellations last year, ‘this year will be very similar.’

In April, Eurocontrol, the continent’s air traffic control body, reported that air traffic was already up five per cent compared to the same period in 2024, with delays rising in tandem. 

This year, the situation is made worse by airport strikes, particularly in France, where tens of thousands of passengers have already been affected by walkouts by air traffic controllers.

Eurocontrol warns that a lack of air traffic control capacity is expected to cause ‘high delays’ in nine countries, including France, Spain, Germany and Greece.