Ryanair protests after armed policeman boarded flight

Ryanair has called on Spain to ban police officers from carrying guns onto domestic flights after an off-duty Spanish policeman boarded one of its aircraft while secretly carrying a firearm.

The airline reported the officer involved to the Spanish police following the incident, which it said was a clear breach of Ryanair's regulations and endangered the safety of all 173 passengers on the flight.

Crew discovered the weapon before takeoff and the police officer was offloaded from the Spanish domestic flight.

Ryanair has formally complained to the Spanish Ambassador to Ireland, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Spanish Government, demanding it change its "unsafe legislation" which allows police officers to carry guns on domestic flights, even when they are not on duty.

Spokesman Stephen McNamara said: "Passengers, including police officers or army personnel, are forbidden from bringing firearms onboard Irish-registered aircraft.

"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."

By Linsey McNeill

Wednesday, July 25, 2012