Published: 28 July’ 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online
An alarming mid-air disturbance aboard an EasyJet flight from London Luton to Glasgow has triggered a counter-terrorism investigation, after a man reportedly shouted extremist phrases including “Allahu Akbar”, “Death to Trump”, and made reference to a “bomb”. The incident unfolded on Sunday morning, casting a tense shadow over US President Donald Trump’s private visit to Scotland.
The flight, EZY609, landed safely at Glasgow Airport at approximately 8:20am. Upon touchdown, Police Scotland officers boarded the aircraft and arrested a 41-year-old male passenger, who remains in custody as of press time. Dramatic footage captured by fellow passengers and now circulating widely on social media shows the suspect shouting incoherently before being subdued by two individuals and forcibly pinned to the aircraft floor.
The man can be heard in the video making inflammatory declarations such as “Death to America” and “Death to Trump”, along with invoking “Allahu Akbar”, a phrase commonly used in Islamic prayer but one that has been tragically co-opted in numerous past terrorist attacks. Eyewitnesses reported a moment of chaos and panic before swift intervention by passengers brought the man under control.
Police Scotland released a statement confirming the arrest and reassuring the public that no further suspects are being sought at this time. “We are aware of videos circulating online and these are being assessed by counter-terrorism officers,” a spokesperson said. “At this time, we believe the incident was contained and that nobody else was involved. Enquiries remain ongoing.”
The timing of the event has heightened sensitivities, given that President Donald Trump is currently in Scotland on a private trip. Though no formal link has yet been established between the incident and the presence of the former US president, law enforcement is not ruling out any motivations and continues to assess the broader implications of the event.
EasyJet, the airline involved, issued a swift response, praising its crew’s conduct and underscoring its commitment to passenger safety. “Flight EZY609 from Luton to Glasgow yesterday was met by police on arrival in Glasgow, where they boarded the aircraft and removed a passenger due to their behaviour on board,” said an airline spokesperson. “EasyJet’s crew are trained to assess all situations and act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time.”
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority,” the statement concluded.
The incident has revived concerns over in-flight security, radicalised threats, and the broader implications of extremist ideologies infiltrating civil air travel. It also underscores the ongoing challenges faced by counter-terrorism units in an age where viral footage can both raise awareness and cause unnecessary alarm before full facts are known.
Authorities have urged the public not to speculate while investigations continue and have asked that any witnesses or passengers with additional footage or information come forward.
No injuries were reported among the crew or passengers, and operations at Glasgow Airport continued without disruption following the incident.
