Ireland’s budget airline Ryanair has responded with great anger to a recent incident in which a Spanish police officer boarded a Ryanair flight carrying a concealed gun.
The policeman was off-duty at the time but still took the undeclared firearm on board with him on a Spanish domestic Ryanair flight.
The crew managed to discover the weapon before the plane took off. The officer was removed from the flight.
Ryanair has lodged an official protest, arguing that the gun present on the flight endangered the lives of 173 passengers on the flight. The airline has launched a formal complaint to the Spanish Government, the Spanish Ambassador in Ireland, and the Irish Report of Foreign Affairs.
Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara has called for a change in the law where Spanish legislation allows police officers to carry firearms on domestic flights, even when they are not working.
"Passengers, including police officers or army personnel are forbidden from bringing firearms on board Irish registered aircraft," McNamara said.
"Last week, a Spanish policeman boarded a Ryanair flight carrying a firearm.
"Ryanair has banned the passenger from travelling with Ryanair again.
"We have reported this safety breach to the Spanish police, and have lodged a complaint with the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
"We have also complained to the Spanish government, who we are urging to take measures to prevent a repeat of such instances."
Ryanair has been in conflict with Spanish authorities before, most recently in the last month.
The airline announced early this week that they were cutting three of their routes from Britain to some Spanish airports after a row over taxes that have to be paid on arrival in Spain.
Fees paid by airlines to land in Madrid and Barcelona are due to be doubled as the country fights against recession.
The three routes between British and Spanish airports will cease in November.
On Monday, chief executive Michael O’Leary said, "Ryanair objects to the Spanish government’s
decision to double airport taxes at both Madrid and Barcelona airports.
"Sadly, this will lead to severe traffic, tourism and job cuts at both airports this winter."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Eschetic | Aug 12, 2012, 12:19 PM EDT
It's a well documented fact (in the U.S. at least) that a majority of people injured in gun "incidents" are shot by people they know - putative "good guys" before they pulled the trigger. In fact it IS the weapon and its availability we need to worry about, especially one in a pressurized vehicle many thousands of feet in the air in the possession of someone not trained for its use - or NONuse - IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. I'm just glad this story seems to be staying in Ireland (and Spain). If "the media" were as "liberal biased" as some Right Wingers allege, some enterprising reporter would ask Congressman Ryan (no relation to Ryanair) what HE thought about it. Quite a few of his more irresponsible supporters want EVERYONE "carrying" at all times - like what they imagine from too many bad old TV shows the "Old West" was like.
JimmieM | Jul 28, 2012, 09:33 AM EDT
Well if a bad person had managed to get a knife or bomb on board I would be pleased to have a good guy with a gun handy...Its NOT the gun...It Is the Person to worry about.
Searlit | Jul 27, 2012, 11:37 PM EDT
That's because you were in the Wild West JBraftree!
IrelandNorth | Jul 27, 2012, 08:02 AM EDT
Shannon US Air Force (USAF) base in County Limerick, Munster/southern Ireland at least stores its weaponry in the cargo holds of chartered civil aircraft whilst going through this ostensibly neutral country on the way to/from Afghanistan, Iraq and various other theatres of engagement with POWs. Hmmm! Does this mean Ryanair won't get USAF contracts?
JBRAFTREE | Jul 26, 2012, 08:46 PM EDT
Years ago, I used to 'hang' with 'on the job' cops. a few times we used to go to Vegas with them 'carrying'. Nothing was ever mentioned about it. I guess, A long time ago.
seanomelb | Jul 26, 2012, 07:51 PM EDT
cheap airline means cheap security and Ryanair should put the blame where it belongs.
Scrivner | Jul 26, 2012, 12:49 PM EDT
Of course Ryanair should be angry, if you want a weapon on board you must pay the flight attendand for one--Visa, MasterCharge, Discovercard accepted with a small service fee added. Lost revenue is no laughing matter!
Searlit | Jul 26, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT
Okay, Mr. (Ryan) did something right. It's a start.
Silling | Jul 26, 2012, 12:02 PM EDT
Liam Corcoran could have brought a bomb on board the jet .com flight from Manchester to Rome and no one would have been the wiser. Proves that Ryan Air are on the ball and safety is paramount. Bravo to all concerned.
Murph46 | Jul 26, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT
Good job crew,arrest and detain cop!