A passenger was escorted from a plane by police at Manchester Airport after getting on the flight with a friend’s boarding pass.
It’s understood that the man was able to board the aircraft which was destined for Paphos in Cyprus.
Police were called and two officers boarded the easyJet flight after a subsequent ‘dispute’ between the young man and airline crew over the situation.
Greater Manchester Police said it resulted in him being escorted from the plane.
No one was arrested, but the incident combined with the plane’s late arrival into the airport and air traffic control delays meant the flight, on Thursday night, was delayed until today (Friday).
EasyJet confirmed that the flight - EZY1973 - returned to stand before take-off but after its take-off was pushed back as a result of ‘a boarding pass discrepancy’.
A spokesman said police attended the aircraft as a precaution while the discrepancy was investigated.
A Manchester Airport spokesman insisted that the passenger 'was fully security screened before boarding the flight so there was no security breach or risk to other passengers'.
Another passenger on board said the flight should have left at 2.45pm on Thursday, but passengers were still on board at 5.30pm. They were later taken off the plane and put up in hotels overnight.
He said: “There were no loud arguments or anything like that. The police came on board but did not search anyone. Everything was kept pretty quiet really but a man was ejected.
“The captain apologised for the long hold up then said that there was a passenger who had boarded the flight with a wrong boarding pass. It was in the wrong name.”
In a statement, GMP said: “Police were called to reports of a dispute between a passenger and airline staff, which resulted in the man being ejected from the flight.
“Officers attended to assist in ensuring that a resolution was reached.”
The force confirmed no one was arrested.
EasyJet said: “easyJet can confirm that flight EZY1973 from Manchester to Paphos returned to stand prior to take off as a result of a boarding pass discrepancy. Police attended the aircraft as a precaution whilst the discrepancy was investigated.
“Unfortunately once this was resolved as a result of the delay and a subsequent Air Traffic control delay the crew were unable to operate as result of reaching their maximum working hours.
“It was not possible to secure a replacement crew so passengers have been disembarked into the terminal and easyJet is currently in the process of providing hotel accommodation. The flight is scheduled to operate to Paphos tomorrow (Friday).
“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority. We would like to thank passengers for their patience and apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
A Manchester Airport spokesman, said: "Due to a boarding pass discrepancy, easyJet’s flight to Paphos yesterday returned to stand and was eventually cancelled.
"The passenger in question was fully security screened before boarding the flight so there was no security breach or risk to other passengers. We are currently working with the airline and their handling agent to investigate the matter further."
