It came as three British men were removed from a plane by US police officers on a plane bound for Manchester from Mexico after it was forced to make an unscheduled landing due to their alleged disruptive behaviour.
Six armed officers boarded Cancun’s TUI plane shortly after it was forced to land Monday night at Bangor International Airport, Maine, following allegations that the men verbally and physically assaulted passengers and crew.
In the video, filmed by a passenger, the first man, carrying a black bag and a red plastic bag, walks down the aisle laughing as police escort him, followed by his friend who pushes past an officer.
The two then get into an altercation with others on board, with one yelling, “Get out.” One of the men responds by yelling “F**got.” A third man dressed in black quietly steps out of the plane, followed by American police.
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Exclusive footage released to MailOnline shows three British men being removed from a plane by US Federal Police agents as it flew from Mexico to Manchester. The plane was forced to make an unscheduled landing in the United States due to their alleged disruptive behavior. Damien Jake Murphy (left) was arrested and charged with Anthony Joseph James Kirby (centre). The third man (seen at the rear right of the plane) was not arrested
Pictured: Damien Jake Murphy (left) and Anthony Joseph James Kirby (right), both 36 and from Manchester, were arrested by US officials and charged with federal crimes. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison
US prosecutors revealed two men had been arrested and named them Anthony Joseph James Kirby and Damien Jake Murphy, both 36, of Manchester.
Kirby and Murphy have been charged with federal felonies and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The third man, whose name has not been released, has not been charged.
According to the FBI, their behavior escalated as the plane flew over US airspace.
The men were refused alcohol by the cabin crew, but one reportedly took a bottle from his hand luggage so they could continue drinking.
They are also accused of making racist comments about staff and passengers while filming the interactions and assaulting a staff member who tried to calm them down.
Damien Jake Murphy (seen in a blue top) carries his equipment as he is taken from the plane by US officers
Anthony Joseph James Kirby is shown running past one of the American officers as he is removed from the plane
A third man, whose name has not been released, was also taken from the flight. He has not been arrested or charged by US authorities. He can be seen in the back of the plane on the left removing his belongings and on the right being removed by US officers
Shortly after the plane stopped unexpectedly, one of the arrested men was charged with a fist fight with a passenger.
A holidaymaker who was on the plane told MailOnline: “Shortly after take off the plane was in total chaos. It was clear these guys were drunk and looking for trouble.
“As the plane landed in Maine, one of the men slapped another passenger in the face and shouted: ‘You fat Scouse s**t’.”
He added: “These men didn’t care about anyone, they cursed young families and were a total disgrace. It ruined a great vacation for a lot of people, but we were delighted when the US police threw them off the plane. I hope they get what they deserve.”
Caroline Farbridge, 56, who was on holiday in Cancun for two weeks, said: “Passengers cheered and cheered when the US police came on board because we were so desperate to get these men out.
“They acted really despicably. They were already drunk before they got on the plane, one of them was so paralyzed he could barely walk. I could see they were going to cause trouble and they just wanted to cause trouble for everyone around them.”
She added: “It was quite a terrible, terrifying experience and I don’t understand why the airline allowed these men to get on the plane drunk.”
After the men were ejected from the plane, two FBI agents boarded and took testimonies from other passengers before the plane was allowed to continue its journey to Manchester, arriving about four hours late.
Anthony Joseph James Kirby, one of three men kicked off the plane, poses for a photo after appearing to compete in an ‘Ironman’ triathlon. He was arrested and charged by US officials with causing flight disruptions
Anthony Joseph James Kirby poses with an unnamed woman
The plane was diverted to Bangor International Airport in Maine (Photo, file photo)
Ms Farbridge, who was on holiday with her daughter, revealed that the captain made several announcements urging the men to stop drinking and behave themselves or he would be forced to land the plane.
She added: “About an hour after the plane took off in Mexico, screams and screams were heard from the back of the plane and it didn’t stop. These men were a real pest, they should hang their heads in shame.
“The captain gave them enough warning, so it’s their own fault. I hope they stay locked up for a long time. The whole crew behaved very professionally and the captain did absolutely the right thing to land the plane to offload these men.’
Kirby and Murphy were both charged with interfering with flight crew and assault. The charges fell under a special aircraft jurisdiction in the United States.
They made their first appearance in the Federal Court in Bangor on Tuesday and could face up to 20 years in prison and fines of more than £200,000 if found guilty.
Both were held in custody after a judge reached an agreement with the U.S. attorney’s office in Maine to hold them pending the resolution of their cases because they both live out of state.
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
