Fight breaks out on plane over lack of social distancing | Video

Passengers on a plane which ignored social distancing rules have erupted into an argument with cabin crew over the seating arrangements.

Mid-air mayhem erupted on a Canary Island-bound flight as furious passengers fought over social distancing in the first case of coronavirus air rage.

Incensed travellers were filmed arguing with a flight attendant, demanding to know why the airline had not seated people 2m apart as per government guidelines.

Passenger Efrén Hernández tweeted from on board the flight on Sunday, saying: “Where is the safety distance Iberia? The plane is almost completely full and there is not even a separation seat between passengers. This is a shame.”

In the video, other passengers are seen standing in their seats arguing with a masked flight attendant who tries to appease the crowd.

The video shows passengers seated close together on the flight.

The Iberia Express flight IB3838 was en route to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria from Madrid and was one of the few flights which has been operating between the Canary Islands.

The flights are permitted to operate provided they adhere to a 50 per cent occupancy limit.

Another passenger tweeted: “What the heck is this? How can this be allowed? Are we crazy? Where is the safety distance Iberia?”

Footage shows several people on the flight telling crew they feel “uncomfortable” at the distances between people.

Three men are seen gesticulating angrily at a male flight attendant as other passengers, some standing in the aisles, look on.

Many took to their mobile phones to record the incident, saying the plane was “almost full” and some rows did not have separation seats.

In the video all passengers are seen wearing masks.

Iberia Express has since refuted the allegations.

Incensed travellers were filmed arguing with a flight attendant.

The company responded to one of the passengers on Twitter, saying: “Hello, we are sorry to read your message. However we want to assure you that we comply with all the security arrangements.

“We have reinforced the daily cleaning and disinfection of the cabin and all its elements and our fleet has an air system and HEPA filters that are 99.9 per cent effective against viruses and bacteria.”

Airlines have been asked to respect distances and “ensure the appropriate security between passengers”.

Ana Oramas of Canary Coalition and a deputy in Congress said she was going to ask Madrid to intervene, saying what had happened was “inadmissable”.

Minister of Public Works and Transport of the Canarian Government Sebastián Franquis said airlines had to comply with the rules on safety distances and voiced his “enormous concern about these breaches”.

At present the death toll from coronavirus in the Canary Islands is 149. The autonomous community of Spain has had 2260 confirmed cases.

Today they entered phase one of the Spanish government’s de-escalation plan which allows travel between the islands and the opening of hotels, plus the terraces to 50 per cent of capacity of bars and restaurants.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission