Ryanair: British stag party causes flight diversion to Berlin Published duration 28 February 2016

image copyright Reza Heravi image caption The men were led away from the plane by German officers

Six British members of a stag party travelling to Bratislava with Ryanair were kicked off the plane in Berlin for drunken behaviour, German police say.

The men - aged 25-28 - were part of a group of 12 travelling to the Slovakian capital from Luton on Friday evening.

They reportedly became violent and were met by police after the plane made an unscheduled landing. The groom was among those detained, officers say.

One of the group exposed himself while others were fighting, passengers said.

German federal police in Berlin said in a statement that six members of the group - from Southampton - were threatening security on board and did not comply with the crew's instructions.

'Massively drunk'

A video from the plane, published by the Sun newspaper, showed one member of the group swearing at another man and threatening him, before throwing a punch at him.

The men were removed from the aircraft after the pilot decided to make an early landing at Berlin Schonefeld Airport.

Reza Heravi, an eyewitness and passenger on the plane, said it was clear the men were "massively drunk" before they boarded the flight and had been singing loudly.

He said: "As we took off, they were hardly seated, they kept standing up and shouting random stuff.

"At one point one of the guys pulled down his trousers and exposed himself to the air hostess."

image copyright PA image caption The Ryanair captain decided to carry out an unscheduled landing

He said: "Passengers were getting very frustrated. They then decided to have a fight between themselves.

"One of the very drunken members of the group tried to stop the fight but was unsuccessful. That's when the cabin crew said we need to stop off in Berlin."

Mr Heravi said it took 20 minutes to get the men off the aircraft and the flight arrived in Bratislava two hours late.

'A matter for police'

Police officers at the airport charged the men with misdemeanours under German aviation security laws, which can be punishable by a fine of up to €25,000 (£20,000), police said.

A possible civil damages suit from the airline could also follow.

The six men were later released. The other six members of the stag group continued their journey.

A Ryanair spokesman said the airline did not tolerate "unruly or disruptive behaviour at any time and the safety and comfort of our customers, crew and aircraft is our number one priority".

"This is now a matter for local police," the spokesman added.

Update 2 March 2016: Some quotes have been removed from this report after it transpired the person who made them had not actually been a passenger on the flight.