Airline passenger tries to force his way in to cockpit

A passenger tried to force his way into the cockpit on board a plane flying to the Canary Islands today.

Staff and other passengers restrained the man on the Thomson Airways flight from Cardiff.

He was arrested when it landed at Las Palmas airport, Gran Canaria. It is not being treated as a terrorist incident.

A spokeswoman for the airport said the man, a Spaniard from the Canary Islands, was "nervous" and "panicked" during the flight. She said he was later freed by police.

He was one of 193 people who took off from Cardiff Airport at 8.20am, including five cabin crew, the captain and a first officer.

A Thomson spokeswoman said: "Thomson Airways can confirm that a passenger became disruptive during flight TOM 6102 flying from Cardiff to Las Palmas Airport, Gran Canaria, on January 25 and demonstrated aggressive behaviour towards customers and crew.

"The passenger was restrained during the flight and in accordance with our procedures the aircraft was met by the local police upon arrival in Gran Canaria.

"Thomson Airways would like to reassure customers that incidents of this type are extremely rare and that their safety is our priority at all times."

She added: "Thomson Airways operates a zero tolerance approach towards aggressive behaviour on board its flights.

"The safety of our customers and crew is the airline's number one priority at all times."