Woman refused to pay for seat upgrade on flight. Then, she threw Rs 5 lakh on tarmac

The flight, which had been en route for approximately five hours, made an unscheduled landing in Vienna. (Representational)

Chaos erupted aboard an EVA Air flight from London to Bangkok mid-air, when a woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, refused to pay for an upgrade to the premium economy section. The situation took a bizarre twist as she and her male companion engaged in a heated dispute that ultimately resulted in the flight being diverted to Vienna.

Passengers and airline officials were left astounded as the quarrel escalated, culminating in the woman hurling wads of money at her travel companion on the tarmac, estimated to be a staggering $6,000 (around Rs 5 lakh).

The incident, which unfolded on Saturday, began when tensions flared between the woman and her male partner, according to reports by SWNS. Passengers witnessed a heated exchange between the couple, prompting the woman to storm off to the premium economy section of the aircraft. However, when asked to pay for the upgraded seat, she vehemently refused.

A spokesperson for the airline stated, "Another male passenger traveling with her also engaged in disorderly behaviour and smoked an e-cigarette adjacent to the cabin galley.

Our flight attendants took quick action to stop these passengers but encountered inappropriate insults and physical abuse." It took the combined efforts of eight other passengers to successfully restrain the disruptive duo.

As the situation escalated, the flight, which had been en route for approximately five hours, made an unscheduled landing in Vienna.
One passenger recounted the incident to New York Post: "The lady and the man, they were already intoxicated... They kept talking about money." The captain informed passengers of the diversion, citing concerns for staff and passenger safety.

The decision was made to return to Vienna, with the captain stating, "It will take two and a half hours to get back there, and we will decide what to do after that."

On the tarmac in Vienna, the dispute took a surreal turn. The male passenger attempted to retrieve a bag he claimed contained money, but the woman responded by hurling the cash onto the ground. Shocked airport workers scrambled to collect the scattered money.

Police ultimately intervened, removing the quarreling pair from the tarmac in a van. It remains unclear whether the couple will face criminal charges for their disruptive behaviour during the flight.