A Thomson Airways flight was delayed at Gatwick while 25 passengers described as ‘drunk’ were removed from the flight.
The Dreamliner was due to take off for Costa Rica when a large group of people allegedly started being abusive to cabin crew.
Witnesses said that the flight was first delayed due to technical issues before the passengers started being abusive – with the total delay amounting to three hours.
Police boarded the flight to remove the passengers – which included a 14 year-old boy – after the pilot refused to fly with them on board.
Sussex police told the Daily Mail: "At 11.35am on Monday police were called to an outbound Thomson flight due to leave Gatwick North Terminal for Costa Rica after the captain refused to fly with a group of 25 male passengers, all adults except for one 14-year old boy, some of whom had been disorderly on the aircraft.
"Officers escorted them from the aircraft to landside where they dispersed."
A Thomson spokesman said: ”We operate a zero tolerance policy in relation to any disruptive behaviour and several customers were asked to leave the aircraft. We worked as quickly as possible to ensure the other customers could get away on their holiday."
