An ex-boxer who was escorted from a Ryanair flight to the Canary Islands as passengers cheered has spoken out, saying that the entire situation was "a load of nonsense". Adam Etches, a retired British professional boxer, was ordered to get off the flight after being accused of being "abusive" and "aggressive", something he categorically denies.
Footage posted online, shows him being escorted off a Ryanair flight as passengers cheered and clapped. The post describes how passengers reported he had been "vile and abusive" on board and say he was seen stealing drinks from a group of girls.
However, Adam wants to set the record straight, claiming that he was the victim and the whole event has been sensationalised. He claims: "Basically it has been blown completely out of proportion, it was nothing like it looks. We were on the plane, admittedly I had a little bit too much to drink and my wallet was taken by a lady, who refused to give it me back, so I was being a bit abrupt, I was annoyed because I wanted my wallet back.”
"I was then told me they are going to have to land the plane in Portugal, where police were waiting to take me off. The whole thing was a load of nonsense, I was the victim."
Images show Mr Etches, and his partner, being escorted by Portuguese police from the plane, which had been travelling from the East Midlands to the Canary Islands, and somebody handing his wallet to cabin crew saying they found it on the floor.
After it was stopped in Porto, Adam said he ended up spending £2,000 on plane tickets alone, adding: "I admit that I did drink a bit too much and I was being a bit too loud, but I wasn’t being abusive to anyone. I had some drinks, someone stole my wallet that’s it. They’ve made me out to be a bad person but I am not a bad guy.”
