Why Our BA Flight Turned Back Just Before Takeoff

You know that moment just before takeoff, seatbelt light on, engines humming, number two in line for the runway, the excitement building? I was living it. I am literally sitting on the aircraft, tracking my flight on Flightradar24 because, well, avgeek things. We were just seconds from launching skywards from London Gatwick to Punta Cana on a British Airways 777, when something odd happened with a British Airways drunk passenger. Instead of accelerating down the runway, the pilot did a 180. Like a seasoned captain mid-Formula 1 race, we swung back around and began taxiing straight back to the stand.

A Cigarette and a Stagger, Or So It Seemed

At first, I assumed it was a technical issue or a wind direction change. But then came the announcement, and soon after, the cabin crew returned to quietly speak to a passenger sitting just a seat away from me.

He had a cigarette butt tucked behind his ear. That was the crew’s initial concern. But when they came back to him a second time, they informed him that he’d be removed from the flight, not because of the cigarette, but because they believed he was intoxicated.

Now here’s the interesting bit: he hadn’t done anything.

He wasn’t loud, wasn’t rude, and didn’t hassle the crew or fellow passengers. In fact, I didn’t even realise he was drunk until they told him he had to leave. He was sitting quietly, minding his own business.

But when questioned, he couldn’t name where the plane was flying. He didn’t realise we hadn’t even taken off yet. Clearly, he wasn’t in full control, and that was probably enough for the crew to make a judgment call.

And honestly, I understood it. After takeoff, things could’ve gone very differently.

Here’s where things took a strange turn: after he was escorted off the plane, he apparently did a runner. The Cabin crew later approached me and asked if I had taken a photo of him because the police couldn’t find him. I hadn’t. But things weren’t as neatly resolved on the tarmac as they first seemed.

Can You Really Get Kicked Off Just for Being Drunk?

Yes. Even if you’re behaving.

Here’s the legal lowdown.

The Law on Intoxication on Flights (UK)

• Air Navigation Order 2016 – Article 242
• It’s a criminal offence to be drunk on an aircraft. You don’t need to be disruptive; being visibly intoxicated can be enough for removal.
• Before Takeoff Counts Too
• If you appear intoxicated when boarding, the airline has the right to deny boarding or ask you to leave the aircraft. It’s about prevention, not just reaction.
• Potential Penalties
• Fines of up to £5,000, and imprisonment of up to two years in more serious or disruptive cases.

So while it might seem harsh, especially if someone’s just sitting quietly, the law supports preemptive action.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t a case of a passenger causing chaos. He didn’t yell, argue, or light a cigarette mid-cabin. But he was clearly in no condition to fly, and while it might feel like an overreaction, safety comes first.

Had things escalated after takeoff, we’d all have been in for a much rougher ride.

As always, know your limits and the rules, and maybe save the drinking when you land in Punta Cana.

Still Taxiing? Read On.

• British Airways Club: The Ultimate Guide to Avios, Tier Points, and Elite Glory
• British Airways: Now Leaving Roughly On Time, Thanks to AI
• Spend. Cry. Repeat: Inside the New British Airways Club