Ryanair Threatens to Sack Pilots over 'Danger' Incidents

EUROPE'S largest budget airline Ryanair is threatening to sack pilots after a series of air accident investigations into hazardous approaches to airports.

The airline has been investigated for three serious incidents in less than a year, which involved aircraft approaching an airport either too fast or at the wrong height.

In each case the pilots were forced to abort landing.

In the latest incident to emerge, a Ryanair jet came within 425ft of the ground as it passed over the suburbs of Cork, triggering two alarms in the cockpit and dozens of complaints from concerned residents.

Following the latest report, from the Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit, the Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary issued a memo to all pilots warning them that they will face demotion the first time they make a dangerous approach and dismissal should they make a second.

The most recent incident, in June last year, involved a flight carrying 134 passengers from Stansted to Cork.

As the captain began his descent he realised that he was too high to land safely and decided to fly in a tight circle to lose height, despite contrary advice from his co-pilot.

As it made its final approach, the aircraft flew just feet from rooftops.

The report said the "serious incident'' was caused by the captain failing to comply with standard procedures and ignoring the advice of the co-pilot.

The low-cost airline allows just 25 minutes to turn flights around, which has led to complaints from unions that pilots are under pressure and are more likely to make mistakes.

Ryanair said in a statement last night: "The board of Ryanair takes safety extremely seriously.

"Safety is Ryanair's number one priority. Our safety instruction to all pilots is: 'If in doubt you must perform a go-around'.

"We expect all our pilots to follow this safety guidance at all times.

"This memo underlines the commitment of Ryanair and its pilots to passenger safety.''

A year ago undercover reporters spent five months secretly filming flights and training for a television documentary.

They claimed that the airline was guilty of security lapses, flew dirty aircraft and made its cabin crew and pilots work excessively long hours.

But aviation regulation authorities said there was no substance to the claims, according to Ryanair.

Referring to the Dispatches report, Ryanair said last night: "The aviation regulatory authorities (the CAA and the IAA) in the UK and Ireland have confirmed that there is no substance to any of the claims made by the Dispatches programme.''

And of the incident over Cork, it said: "Ryanair cooperated fully with this AAIU investigation and agrees with its findings. Following a disciplinary hearing, the pilot in question was demoted for deviating from Ryanair's standard procedures.''

The airline revealed this week its net profits had risen to pounds 31.4million in the three months to December 31.

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