Police escorted a mum off a Ryanair jet after she ate Pringles from the trolley before paying. Ann-Marie Murray, 55, asked for the crisps, water and a cola costing £7 on a flight from Tenerife to Bristol on March 28.
But she was unable to pay when the in-flight 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.
Ann-Marie, who had been to Tenerife to celebrate her birthday, says the incident ruined her trip(Image: Bav Media)
“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.
“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.
A police officer leading Ann-Marie away from the plane
Ann-Marie was then put into the back of a police van on the runway
“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 eventually being allowed to pay the £7 bill, Ann-Marie says a Ryanair staff member told her she is banned from travelling on the budget airline(Image: Getty Images)
“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.”
