Revealed: Why Oleksandr Usyk was detained at Krakow Airport

Oleksandr Usyk was detained by Polish police after protesting false accusations by Ryanair staff that a friend he was travelling with was too drunk to board a plane, his promoter has told Telegraph Sport.

Footage of the Ukrainian heavyweight world champion being led away in handcuffs at Krakow Airport has sparked a diplomatic incident, with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky saying he was “outraged” at the treatment of one of his country’s biggest stars.

Zelensky said he had ordered senior ministers to “find out all the details” about the detention of Usyk, who was released soon afterwards.

Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has now given the boxer’s version of Tuesday night’s extraordinary events in Poland, revealing “an apology and compensation” was now being sought from the airline.

Krassyuk said Usyk, who beat Tyson Fury to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in May, and his friend had “driven more than 11 hours” from Ukraine capital Kyiv to Krakow to catch Ryanair “Buzz” flight FR2777 to Thessaloniki.

He said Usyk’s friend had fallen asleep after arriving at the airport and that the boxer woke his companion when it was time to board the plane.

But after Usyk had gone through the passport and boarding pass check, he found that his friend had been refused permission to join him.

Krassyuk said that when Usyk sought an explanation from Ryanair staff, they would not provide one.

The police were then called and Usyk refused to board without his friend, at which point he was threatened with detention.

Krassyuk said Usyk voluntarily held out his hands and was cuffed and led away, while his friend was checked for alleged “deep alcohol intoxication”. According to Krassyuk, the check was negative.

In the meantime, Ukraine’s consul general in Krakow arrived to come to Usyk’s aid, with Zelensky posting a picture of the pair shaking hands following the boxer’s release.

The incident forced Usyk and his friend to spend the night in Poland before catching a flight on Wednesday afternoon to Thessaloniki.

Krassyuk said: “It is difficult to say whether the lunar eclipse clouded the consciousness of the employees of the airline and the police, or the desire to get to know the champion.

“So, thank God, the incident is over. We will wait for an official apology and compensation from the airline Ryanair and the explanations from the Polish law enforcement officers.”

Zelensky posted on X: “I was outraged by this attitude towards our citizen and champion. I’ve instructed the minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha and the minister of internal affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko to immediately find out all the details of the incident at the Krakow airport.

“As soon as I was informed that everything is fine, our champion was released and no one is detaining him anymore.”

Usyk thanks police for ignoring height, weight and reach

Usyk himself made light of the incident, posting: “Dear Friends. A misunderstanding took place. It was quickly resolved. Thanks to all who got concerned. Thanks to Ukrainian diplomats for the efficient support. And respect to Polish police for conducting their obligations with no regards to height, weight, reach and regalia.”

Ryanair declined to comment on the account provided by Krassyuk but said in a statement that Usyk’s friend had been “correctly refused boarding” due to “his disruptive behaviour”.

It added: “This passenger’s travel companion was not refused boarding [Mr Usyk]), however, chose not to board.

“Once boarding was complete, the airport gate agent called for assistance where these passengers were met by airport police.”

Usyk is expected to travel to London this week to attend Saturday’s fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois for the IBF title the Ukrainian vacated this summer.

Ryanair: ‘It’s not that easy to identify people who are inebriated’

The incident occurred three weeks after Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary told The Telegraph he wanted a two-drinks-per-passenger limit imposed at airport bars to combat drunken disorder on flights.

Instances of in-flight violence have surged this summer with attacks now occurring on a weekly basis, O’Leary said.

While assaults on cabin crew are of most concern, confrontations between passengers have become increasingly common, according to O’Leary. He blamed a combination of alcohol with “powder and tablets”.

O’Leary said: “It’s not that easy for airlines to identify people who are inebriated at the gate, particularly if they are boarding with two or three others.

“As long as they can stand up and shuffle, they will get through. Then when the plane takes off, we see the misbehaviour.

“We don’t want to begrudge people having a drink. But we don’t allow people to drink-drive. Yet, we keep putting them up in aircraft at 33,000 feet.”

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