Irish MMA star Sinead Kavanagh is making headlines for all the wrong reasons after allegedly attacking two Spanish police officers aboard a Ryanair flight from Gran Canaria to Dublin.
According to Spanish outlets Atlántico Hoy and Canarias 7, the shocking incident unfolded on the evening of November 24, when Kavanagh, 39, reportedly became “violent” before takeoff. Cabin crew called for help, and Spanish Civil Guard officers boarded the plane to remove Kavanagh and another woman.
That’s when things got wild.
Witness video obtained by Atlántico Hoy shows Kavanagh grappling with two officers in the aisle as a passenger screams, “Don’t do this! Please!” The officers eventually subdued her, and Kavanagh was taken into custody at the airport.
Authorities claim Kavanagh “repeatedly struck” two officers during the scuffle. One officer has since been placed on medical leave, and Kavanagh is now under investigation for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest. She was released on bail after appearing in a Spanish court on November 25.
Police told The Sun that the pilot refused to fly with Kavanagh and her companion onboard. “The pilot requested police presence because of two passengers who were causing problems,” a Civil Guard spokesperson said. “The pilot had decided they weren’t going to fly.”
The incident has sparked outrage among Spanish law enforcement. The Unified Association of Civil Guards called the ordeal “shameful,” blasting a lack of proper equipment to deal with violent passengers: “Aggressor FREE, officers on sick leave … we face professional fighters unarmed and without resources.”
Kavanagh, a member of Conor McGregor’s SBG Ireland gym, is one of the country’s top female MMA fighters and a Bellator featherweight contender. Known for her hard-hitting style in the cage, Kavanagh has held five championship titles throughout her career.
Ryanair and the Civil Guard have yet to issue official statements.
Source: Atlántico Hoy / Canarias 7 / The Sun
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