READ MORE: How Europe is pricing British holidaymakers out - with two-tier entry fees, taxi scams and £6 ETIASSee more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JOWENA RILEY, TRAVEL WRITER Published: 15:22 BST, 29 May 2026 | Updated: 15:23 BST, 29 May 2026
A passenger single-handedly brought Manchester Airport to a standstill during a four-hour face off with police - after he was denied boarding after 'peeing himself'. The man, identified online as Jack from Wakefield and who is said to be in his 40s, arrived at the airport yesterday afternoon for his flight to Jamaica - but was deemed unfit to fly by staff who felt he was intoxicated and appeared to have wet himself. The passenger protested against the decision by putting Terminal 2 on gridlock 'out of principle' - and live-streamed part of the incident on social media. During the 11-minute video, he ranted: 'My reason was because I peed myself. Literally, I got a taxi, went to the toilet and p****d myself so they didn't let me on the plane... 'So basically now I've got Terminal 2 on gridlock and I've done it out of principle.'Over a four-hour period, the man stationed himself on the ledge of the upper level car park at Terminal 2 while police negotiated ways to talk him down, reports Manchester Evening News.As he paced across the outer ridge, he can be heard telling police: 'It's three o'clock, I've been on here since I got here and now they reckon they are going to give my money back for my flight. 'I'm going to get arrested but I don't give a f**k. It's the principle.' Jack (pictured) claims he was protesting because he wasn't allowed on his flight as he'd 'peed himself' Manchester Airport was brought to a standstill for four hours yesterday while a man, identified as Jack from Wakefield, staged a protest over being deemed unfit to fly Pictured: Footage from the man's 11-minute live-stream, which saw him stationing himself on the ledge of the upper level car park at Terminal 2, while police attempted to talk him down During the stand-off, the airport's drop-off and pick-up forecourts were closed off, resulting in the surrounding roads becoming gridlocked with traffic. Chaos ensued as passengers were forced to abandon their taxis and walk to the departure hall. Images from the scene show massive traffic congestion spilling into the M56, while others show holidaymakers hauling their luggage out of taxis in the middle of the road, before heading to the airport on foot along the hard shoulder.Travellers took to social media to voice their frustration, with one person writing: 'Passengers are having to ditch taxis in a bid to make their flights.' Another reported: 'An elderly disabled woman being dropped off at the roundabout of T2 at 11:40 because everyone was just being told drop off was closed and you had to walk.'Why has this taken so long. Absolute shambles. Chaos outside the airport. No direction.'At the time of the incident, Manchester Airport urged passengers to 'allow plenty of time for their journey'. In a statement to Manchester Evening News, it added: 'We are grateful to our passengers for their understanding and patience this afternoon.' Elderly and disabled passengers were forced to make their way to the departure hall on foot due to gridlocked traffic Pictured: Staff dealing with lines of traffic at Manchester Airport during the incident Greater Manchester Police later said the man was arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and a public order offence. However, reports claim he was finally reimbursed over £3,000 for his holiday before he ended his protest.Daily Mail has contacted Manchester Airport and Greater Manchester Police for further comment. It comes weeks after Manchester Airport was partially closed for a number of hours overnight after a police chase ended in a car crash outside Terminal 2, that left the driver seriously injured.Passengers arriving for flights in the early hours of 5 May faced disruption after the upper forecourt drop-off zone was shut to the public.Motorists were diverted to the lower forecourt with bosses at the UK's third busiest airport warning of congestion and journeys taking longer than normal.
