For a 51-year-old Dutchman, a flight without a mask did not end in South Africa, but at the inspection of the Federal Police in Munich. The Lufthansa jet was already on its way towards the runway, but the captain decided to return and call in the executive.

According to the Federal Police, the incident occurred on Thursday evening at Munich Airport. The 51-year-old is said to have refused to put on mouth protection despite repeated requests by the cabin crew. At this point the aircraft was already on its way towards the runway. A flight attendant informed the captain and asked him for a decision.

This followed promptly, because the cockpit crew decided to return to the parking position. The federal police were called over the radio, who then approached the Dutchman with four officers and "removed" him from the airliner. The other passengers were then able to continue their journey to South Africa, the 51-year-old was interrogated at the federal police station.

„Der unbelehrbare Fluggast konnte dem startenden Flugzeug nur noch von außen hinterherblicken und wird sich nun wegen einem Verstoß nach dem Luftsicherheitsgesetz verantworten müssen“, so die Bundespolizei Flughafen München in einer Medienmitteilung. Dem Niederländer könnte nun eine empfindliche Geldstrafe blühen.