Safety probe announced into Ryanair emergency landing
Ryanair is to be the subject of a joint investigation by Spanish and Irish authorities following a number of diversions and emergency landings by the Irish-registered airline in Spanish airspace.
The investigation, announced following a meeting of Spanish and Irish air safety experts in Dublin yesterday, will relate specifically to a Ryanair flight from Paris to Tenerife on Sunday, which was diverted to Madrid due to a technical fault.
However, Spanish authorities are also concerned about several other incidents in Spanish airspace, including three emergency landings at Valencia on July 26 and the diversion of a Ryanair flight from Bristol to Reus that diverted to Barcelona on Saturday due to a problem with one of its engines.
In a joint statement, Ireland’s Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport and the Spanish Ministry of Development said they had met "to discuss oversight of Ryanair’s operation in Spain".
After the meeting, the Irish department of transport said: "The Irish authorities gave an assurance of the Irish Aviation Authority’s rigorous oversight of Ryanair’s operations and on their satisfaction with Ryanair’s safety standards which are on a par with the safest airlines in Europe."
Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said he welcomed the statement and the airline has invited the Spanish Ministry to send a team of inspectors to Dublin to correct any "misplaced concerns" about Ryanair’s compliance with Europe’s highest operating and maintenance standards.
It was providing them with "unfettered access to Ryanair operating, maintenance and flight training facilities and unlimited access to Ryanair’s safety, flight management, engineering and maintenance personnel" it said.
Spain’s Public Works minister Ana Pastor, whose ministry runs aviation safety, has called for tighter safety regimes at all low-cost airlines following a series of media reports about emergency incidents.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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