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An easyJet flight bound for the UK has had to turn back to Tenerife after a mass brawl broke out mid-air between two British families.
Spanish air traffic controllers said overnight around 10 passengers had been involved in the fight on board the plane heading for Liverpool.
The fight broke out around 30 minutes after take-off, prompting the plane's captain to turn back because of the 'danger this posed to the safety of the flight', air traffic control said.
Police were present upon arrival, but a spokesperson for Spain's Civil Guard on Wednesday said not arrest had been made, but confirmed that the people involved were all British.
She said: 'Eight people were removed from the plane who had been travelling together, two adults and six minors.
'What appears to have happened is that a heated discussion started in the airport terminal between two families before they boarded the plane and those problems obviously continued on the plane which is why it turned back.
'We're not aware of any physical fighting on board.
'No arrests took place but all eight people taken off the plane have been identified. All eight are British nationals.'
Police were not able to say today what had caused the problems between the two families.
The incident happened on easyJet flight EZY3352, which flight trackers show left Tenerife South Airport just before 8pm local time on Tuesday and returned to the same airport at five minutes past nine.
Standard procedure in Spain involving air incidents unless officers witness a crime being committed usually revolves around a formal identification of the person signalled as the cause of problems and taken off a plane so they can be handed a fine.
The Spanish Air Safety and Security Agency (AESA) is the state body that in Spain ensures civil aviation standards are observed in all aeronautical activity in Spain.
It has powers to fine offenders for breaches of a Spanish air safety law, with fines for the standard type of breach ranging from around £50 to nearly £40,000
They can also be hit with the cost of any diversion, and face a flying ban with the airline.
One Spaniard responding to the news said on social media: 'I'm amazed by the number of flights departing from or arriving in the UK that experience security problems like this. What a disgrace.'
An easyJet spokesman confirmed today: 'Flight EZY3352 from Tenerife to Liverpool yesterday returned to the airport and was met by police due to a group of passengers behaving disruptively.
'The flight then continued onto its final destination.
'Our cabin and ground crew are trained to assess all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time.
'We take these incidents very seriously and do not tolerate disruptive behaviour towards our staff.
'The safety and well being of customers and crew is always our highest priority.'
Although Spanish air traffic controllers said the plane had returned to Tenerife because of a fight involving several passengers and easyJet confirmed many passengers 'behaved disruptively', some passengers disputed the fight.
One British man insisted on social media late last night: 'My daughter is on this flight.
'A family with kids got escorted off the plane. No fighting at all.'
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