A DREAM holiday turned into a nightmare in the skies for a young couple when brawling passengers put an aircraft in danger.

Burnley and Pendle ambulance driver Paula Riley was trying to catch some sleep when the trouble erupted next to her.

She and her 25-year-old husband, Geoff, who is a butcher, were returning from a holiday in Mexico on board a brand new Boeing 767

The plane made an emergency landing in Ireland after the pilot refused to fly the feuding passenger any further and announced he was heading for the nearest airport.

Trouble on the aircraft had begun an hour earlier over the Atlantic Ocean when two couples from Liverpool started arguing. Other passengers, who like 23-year-old Paula had been trying to sleep, were treated to a torrent of abuse when they asked them to be quiet.

Said Geoff: "The women were worse than the men. They had three goes at each other and in the end about ten people had become involved.

"One of the couples had been in our hotel and seemed to be friends with the other couple. The men sat across the aisles and were gossiping all the way. They had had a bit to drink."

Stewardesses on the flight acted as peacemakers between the couples three times.

The Rileys were surprised when their Airtours charter aircraft landed at Shannon Airport.

Added Geoff: "After the last outbreak the pilot said he didn't intend to go any further and was planning an emergency landing at the nearest airport.

"Apparently the crew were worried because if there is trouble on a flight some people try to get to the doors and get out!

"We had no idea where we were, but we thought he might put down at Gatwick. It was a surprise to be in Ireland.

"The police came onto the aircraft and took both couples away. Later we found out that the Irish police treat trouble on aircraft very seriously, and that they could have got five years had the Garda got involved.

"As it was it must have cost them a small fortune because they had to make their own way home."

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