Cian Healy forced off Leinster squad flight

Leinster’s incident-packed tour of South Africa hit another snag yesterday after Ireland prop Cian Healy was asked to leave their flight from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.

The 29-year-old was reviewing Saturday’s game on his laptop after the passengers were told to stop using electronic equipment.

To the surprise of the player, a member of the South African Express cabin crew asked that the plane be turned around and the player was asked to leave when it returned to the terminal.

The police were not asked to get involved and after making an apology Healy was booked onto the next flight with the same airline later that afternoon.

He arrived and linked up with the squad, trained earlier today and remains in contention to play against the Cheetahs on Friday night.

“It was an unfortunate incident, apologies were made and we moved on,” said Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson 

A statement from Leinster Rugby confirmed the incident.

"Leinster Rugby can confirm that Cian Healy was asked to leave yesterday afternoon's flight from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town," it read.

"The issue related to a misunderstanding around the use of a laptop during the approach to take off.

"Cian disembarked the plane and took the next available flight to Cape Town with the same airline.

"Cian apologised sincerely to all concerned at the time for any inconvenience caused."