Man arrested at Heathrow after Saudia flight disturbance during taxi

A passenger on a Saudia Airlines flight from Jeddah was arrested at London Heathrow Airport on Thursday after allegedly punching a crew member and attempting to open a cabin door as the aircraft taxied to Terminal 4, police said. The disturbance occurred shortly after the Boeing-registered jet landed at about 12:57 p.m., prompting pilots to halt on the taxiway and summon emergency services, officials and witnesses said.

The flight, operating as SV119 and registered HZAR27, departed Jeddah around 38 minutes late and landed in London after a flight of just over six hours. Passengers and onlookers reported seeing an extensive response on the tarmac, with images and witnesses describing multiple fire engines, police vehicles and ambulances surrounding the aircraft while stairs were erected to allow officers to board. A source who spoke to reporters said families on board had been left frightened by the incident.

The Metropolitan Police said officers at Heathrow were called to the aircraft following reports of a disturbance and arrested a 33-year-old man on suspicion of endangering an aircraft. The force added he was also suspected of two counts of assault by beating, of behaving in...