Drunk Perussuomalaiset MP removed from Finnair flight

Police on Saturday removed ruling Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) lawmaker Tomi Immonen from a flight of the national flag carrier Finnair at Helsinki Airport, local media reported on Sunday.

The incident took place in a Bangkok bound flight when the cabin crew of the airlines requested Immonen to leave the aircraft as he appeared intoxicated onboard, reported a leading Finnish language evening tabloid Iltalehti.

As the MP did not pay heed to the requests made by the cabin crew, police rushed to the aircraft and removed him from the flight.

The incident delayed the flight by more than an hour, media reported, quoting Finnair and country´s airports operator Finavia.

The Perussuomalaiset MP, however, in a message apologised to Finnair staff and the passengers for the delay due to the incident.

Immonen is a retired Lieutenant Colonel having 30-year career in military service.

Earlier in May 2024, Perussuomalaiset, the second largest component of the four-party alliance government, expelled its lawmaker Timo Vornanen, who was arrested on April 26 for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident at a night club in Helsinki.

In June 2020, the party also expelled another lawmaker Ano Turtiainen for making racist posts on Twitter.