Man tries to open jet door at 36,000ft

A holidaymaker who tried to open the door of a plane at 36,000 feet was arrested at Gatwick.

The drama happened on a packed Thomson flight from Palma, Majorca, to Newcastle early yesterday. The flight was diverted to Gatwick after the passenger, 22, became violent.

Witnesses said his friends tried to restrain him as he attempted to open the door, and he was reported to have shouted: "It's okay, we are just on a simulator."

Passengers helped cabin crew wrestle him into a seat and he was tied up with seat belts. The man, from Ashington, Northumberland, was later bailed to November 8. The flight carried on to Newcastle.

A Thomson Airways spokeswoman said: "We would like to reassure customers that it would not have been possible to open the aircraft door while the aircraft was in the air due to the pressure inside the cabin."