Summary
- Ryanair flight from BFS to EDI had to make an emergency return because an aircraft door was left open. Pilots declared an emergency and landed safely.
- Flight data shows the aircraft descended quickly to a lower altitude after the door issue was detected. Passengers and crew were safe.
- Ryanair has faced scrutiny over consumer protection laws and has been fined for violating them in the past. Passengers have complained about poor compensation for disruptions.
A Ryanair flight from Belfast International Airport (BFS) bound for Edinburgh Turnhouse Airport (EDI) made an emergency return to BFS after it was found that one of the aircraft doors had been left open. The short 45-minute hop to Edinburgh was disrupted due to the onboard finding. The pilots declared an emergency and turned the aircraft around for its return. The aircraft landed safely and BFS nearly 45 minutes after departure. All passengers and crew onboard were safe.
The Ryanair incident
On October 17, Ryanair Flight RK 178, operated by a Boeing 737-8AS (Registration G-RUKF), was performing a routine flight between BFS and EDI when it was discovered that the aircraft door was left open. The aircraft received an indication that one of the doors was not properly secured. The pilots declared a Squawk 7700 emergency before preparing the aircraft for its return.
Data from Flightradar24 showed that Ryanair Flight 178 departed from BFS at 19:48 hours, nearly 20 minutes behind schedule. After taking off, the aircraft was performing its initial climb. Just over five minutes into the flight, at approximately 14,600 feet (4,450 m), the pilots abruptly perform a descent to a lower, safer altitude.
Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying
Flight data shows the aircraft descended nearly 6,000 feet (1,830 m) in less than four minutes. After following the regulatory checklist for a safe approach, the pilots landed the aircraft at BFS 45 minutes after takeoff.
The AeroTime Hub reported that a Ryanair spokesperson mentioned that the airline acknowledged the incident on October 17. However, the airline considers it as a minor technical issue. According to the Ryanair spokesperson,
“This flight from Belfast to Edinburgh (17 October) returned to Belfast International Airport shortly after departure due to a minor technical issue with the aircraft. The aircraft landed normally and to minimize disruption to passengers, an alternative aircraft was quickly arranged, which departed for Edinburgh Airport at 00.40 local. Ryanair sincerely apologizes to all affected customers for any inconvenience caused.”
Ryanair is repeatedly scrutinized for consumer protection laws
The European low-cost airline has come under tremendous scrutiny over consumer protection laws. Multiple recent events suggest that airline customers are often not protected in purchasing flights. The airline has been fined for various consumer-related incidents in recent times.
Photo: Mario Hagen | Shutterstock
Concerning a flight delay earlier this year, the Hungary Supreme Court recently ordered the airline to pay $545,000 for violating consumer protection laws. The airline does a poor job of compensating passengers for cancelations within the airline’s control.
In August, Ryanair was fined a hefty €5.6 million ($6.1 million) for failing to compensate passengers affected by a cabin crew strike in 2018. Passengers are entitled to compensation under the EU 261 law if factors outside the airline’s control do not cause flight disruptions.
What are your thoughts on the Ryanair incident involving a reportedly unsecured aircraft door during a flight? Have you traveled with Ryanair recently? Share your experience in the comment section.
Source: AeroTime Hub
