Daniel Ashley-Laws Dragged by Ear and Forcibly Removed from Ryanair Flight After Trying to Open Emergency Exit

In a shocking mid-air incident that disrupted a Ryanair flight bound for Spain, British builder Daniel Ashley-Laws was forcibly removed by French police after allegedly attempting to open an emergency exit door. The event, which unfolded last Friday on a flight from London Luton to Alicante, forced an unscheduled diversion to Toulouse, France, and has since sparked widespread outrage over passenger safety and airline enforcement. Eyewitness accounts and viral video footage captured the chaotic removal, highlighting the dangers of alcohol-fueled disruptions at 30,000 feet. As investigations continue, the case underscores Ryanair’s strict policies on unruly behavior and the severe legal repercussions that follow.

The Chaotic Flight: Disruptions from Takeoff to Mid-Air Crisis

The trouble began well before the Ryanair flight even left the ground. Daniel Ashley-Laws, a father and builder from Essex known on social media as Dan Rizz, was traveling with a group of friends, including his son Danny Ashley-Laws, as part of a stag do trip to Benidorm. Witnesses described the group as visibly intoxicated upon boarding, having consumed duty-free alcohol in the departure lounge at Luton Airport. “They were openly drinking and could barely stand up,” recounted passenger Tania Nichols in a detailed account shared online. Despite these red flags, the group was allowed to board, setting the stage for escalating disorder.

Once airborne, the disruptions intensified. The stag party members ignored basic safety protocols, freely swapping seats and wandering the cabin despite crew instructions to remain seated. Loud, inappropriate conversations—within earshot of families with young children—filled the aircraft, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere. Physical altercations soon followed: two members of the group were seen pushing and clashing heads, with one man’s shirt tearing in the scuffle as others tried to intervene. Further reports detailed acts of vandalism, including spitting on seats and placing feet on headrests.

In one particularly alarming incident, a woman was kicked in the head by a passenger whose legs were draped over the seat in front of her. Cabin crew, praised for their professionalism throughout, repeatedly urged the group to comply. Yet the situation deteriorated rapidly about midway through the flight. Seated next to an emergency exit, Daniel Ashley-Laws allegedly reached for the door handle and began tampering with it, prompting immediate alarm among passengers and staff. “It was terrifying for everybody else on the flight,” a police source later told investigators.

The attempt to open the door—whether in jest or genuine intent—posed a direct threat to the aircraft’s integrity, as emergency exits are sealed during flight to prevent catastrophic depressurization. The pilot, left with no alternative, declared an emergency and diverted the plane to the nearest suitable airport: Toulouse-Blagnac in southern France. The landing occurred around 9:30 p.m. local time, turning what should have been a routine two-and-a-half-hour journey into a prolonged ordeal for the 180 passengers on board.

Ryanair flight takes emergency landing in Toulouse after stag do start fighting on plane 🤦‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/P0CwJlmbUm

— UK Fights 🇬🇧 (@krazyukfights) September 28, 2025

This phase of the incident reveals broader issues in pre-flight screening and alcohol consumption policies. Ryanair, like many low-cost carriers, permits duty-free alcohol purchases but relies on passengers to consume responsibly. The group’s behavior, however, crossed into criminal territory, endangering not just themselves but everyone aboard. Nichols emphasized the crew’s handling: “They remained calm, professional, and did everything they could to manage the situation and reassure other passengers.” Without their intervention, the outcome could have been far graver, underscoring the critical role of trained airline staff in averting disasters.

Dramatic Removal: Police Boarding and the Viral Confrontation

Upon touchdown in Toulouse, the Airbus A320 was met by a rapid response from France’s Air Transport Gendarmerie Company (CGTA), an elite unit specialized in aviation security. Four armed officers boarded the aircraft, their presence immediately quelling the unrest. Daniel Ashley-Laws, identified as the ringleader, was the primary target. Video footage, which quickly went viral on TikTok under the handle RubyTinsley, captures the tense moments: Ashley-Laws, heavily tattooed and disheveled, resists commands to stand, climbing onto a seat and shouting, “No, no, no—no f–king way!” Officers, undeterred, grab him by the neck and ear, dragging him down the aisle toward the exit.

Read : Ryanair Passenger Breaks Down in Tears After Being Denied Boarding Due to Luggage Issue

The scene is both harrowing and surreal. As police wrestle the 40-something builder into compliance, fellow passengers erupt in cheers and applause, a mix of relief and vindication washing over the cabin. Daniel Ashley-Laws’ son, Danny, adds to the drama, yelling from his seat, “They started it—that’s my dad!” before being handcuffed and escorted off alongside three or four other group members. The entire removal process lasted mere minutes, but the footage—overlaid with a meme audio clip of “Nothing beats a Jet2holidays” for ironic effect—has amassed millions of views, amplifying the story globally.

CGTA commander Ludovic Fornari later commended his team’s “extreme professionalism,” noting seamless cooperation with other French security units. The operation was textbook: swift, contained, and without injury to non-involved parties. Daniel Ashley-Laws, whose blood alcohol level was reportedly off the charts, was so impaired that authorities held him in a Border Police cell for several hours to sober up before questioning. This detail highlights the physiological toll of excessive drinking at altitude, where alcohol’s effects are amplified by lower oxygen levels and cabin pressure.

The viral nature of the video has fueled public discourse on airline passenger rights and enforcement. While some viewers expressed sympathy for the stag do’s “lads’ holiday” vibe, the overwhelming consensus condemns the actions as reckless. Ryanair’s statement post-incident was unequivocal: “This flight from London-Luton to Alicante was diverted to Toulouse after several passengers disrupted the flight. The crew requested police intervention, who disembarked these passengers before the flight returned to its destination.” The airline’s zero-tolerance stance, including lifetime bans for repeat offenders, positions this event as a stark warning to holiday revelers.

Aftermath and Legal Ramifications: From Custody to Mockery

With the disruptive passengers offloaded, the flight departed Toulouse at 10:15 p.m., arriving in Alicante several hours late. For the remaining travelers, the ordeal ended on a high note—literally, with applause echoing as the plane taxied. But for Ashley-Laws and his group, the consequences were just beginning. Detained at Toulouse airport, the father faced initial charges related to endangering aircraft safety, a serious offense under French law carrying up to five years in prison and fines equivalent to £60,000. Being intoxicated on a flight adds another layer, with maximum penalties of two years imprisonment and £4,000 fines applicable in both France and the UK.

Despite the gravity, Ashley-Laws was released after sobering up and reportedly paid an on-the-spot fine—though exact figures remain unconfirmed amid the ongoing judicial enquiry. By Monday, photos surfaced of him in Benidorm, grinning in a Hawaiian shirt as two friends yanked his ear in a mock recreation of the arrest. The social media post, captioned “Benni final boss—some French lads lol madness,” drew swift backlash for trivializing the incident that terrorized dozens. His son and companions, while questioned, faced no immediate charges, allowing the group to continue their trip.

Ryanair has vowed to pursue further action, potentially including a lifetime ban for Ashley-Laws, aligning with their policy of pursuing compensation for diversion costs—estimated at tens of thousands of euros. The airline’s approach sends a clear message: disruptions will not be tolerated, especially those risking lives. Broader implications extend to international aviation norms; the International Air Transport Association has long advocated for harmonized penalties, and this case may bolster calls for stricter pre-boarding sobriety checks.

As the enquiry progresses, Ashley-Laws’ fate hangs in balance. Sources indicate he remains the principal accused, with French prosecutors weighing evidence from passenger statements and CCTV. For now, the builder’s lighthearted posts contrast sharply with the fear he instilled mid-air. This incident serves as a cautionary tale for stag dos and budget flights alike: what starts as harmless fun can spiral into legal nightmares, leaving indelible marks on reputations and records. Passengers and airlines alike will watch closely, hoping it prompts real change in curbing airborne chaos.