Ann-Marie Murray, 55, was on a flight from Tenerife to Bristol on March 28 and asked for the crisps, water and a cola costing £7 from Ryanair crew members when her card payment failed
A mum was escorted off a Ryanair flight by police after she ate Pringles from the plane’s trolley before paying. Ann-Marie Murray was on a flight from Tenerife to Bristol on March 28 when she asked for the crisps, water and a cola costing £7.
The 55-year-old was unable to pay when the airline’s card machine would not accept payment and she had no cash. Three cops arrived and put the housing association worker in the back of their van.
The airline said crew “called ahead for police assistance after a passenger became disruptive”. But Ann-Marie said: “I wasn’t disruptive. There were no raised voices.
“I was doing my best to pay. I tried to tap and pay, but the machine didn’t work. They tried with another machine and when it still didn’t go through I offered to get cash when we landed but they said I couldn’t do that.”
Ann-Marie, from Gloucester, said her partner asked a steward if they wanted the Pringles back and was told “no”. She added: “I thought it was a joke when the crew said they had called the police,” reports Mirror.
“I was shocked when the police came onboard and we were asked to leave. It was so embarrassing. I had done everything I could to resolve it.
“They then told the police I had refused to pay, but that wasn’t the case. I wanted to pay, but my card didn’t work and I had no cash.”
Ann-Marie had been visiting the Canary Island with her partner for a four-night mini-break to celebrate her birthday and says the incident ruined the trip. She says she had previously witnessed another passenger struggling to pay with a chip and pin card from the same bank on another Ryanair flight and was left shocked when staff didn’t take a more pragmatic approach.
She said: “Luckily the police were lovely and after I explained the situation they took me to a cash machine and I was able to pay the £7. The officers were laughing and couldn’t believe it.
“After I paid, the crew told me we’re banned from flying with Ryanair, but I’d never fly with them again anyway after what happened.”
Avon and Somerset Police said: “We received a report of a disruptive passenger on an inbound flight to Bristol Airport. Officers briefly attended, but quickly established it related to a civil dispute and no action was taken.”
Ryanair said: “During this flight, this passenger attempted to purchase food onboard, however the card did not process payment. As crew looked to resolve the payment issue, this passenger proceeded to ignore crew instructions, consume the items prior to payment and subsequently became disruptive.
“The aircraft was met by local police upon arrival at Bristol Airport and this passenger was removed.
“Ryanair has a strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct and will continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behaviour, ensuring that all passengers and crew travel in a safe and respectful environment, without unnecessary disruption.”
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