Dream Vacation Turns Into Flight Nightmare
What should have been the perfect ending to an idyllic Tenerife vacation became a waking nightmare for 55-year-old Ann-Marie Murray and her partner. As they boarded their Ryanair return flight to Bristol, they never imagined a simple snack purchase would lead to police intervention and public humiliation in front of dozens of passengers.
The Snack Dispute That Spiraled Out of Control
The couple ordered a Coca-Cola, bottled water, and Pringles chips for an in-flight picnic, totaling just £7 (about €8). When their card payment failed and they’d exhausted their euros during the trip, Ann-Marie—a care home worker—offered to withdraw cash upon landing. Flight staff refused this solution, confiscated their boarding passes, and accused them of refusing payment, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Public Humiliation and Police Escort
“The embarrassment was indescribable,” Ann-Marie recounted. “They held up all passengers just to escort us off like criminals.” Despite emptying her purse to prove she carried no cash and fellow passengers defending them—even one flight attendant offering to pay—crew members insisted on police involvement for alleged “disruptive behavior.”
Final Insult: Damaged Car at Bristol Airport
The ordeal continued upon landing. In the Bristol Airport parking lot, they discovered their car’s front bumper completely destroyed and the vehicle undrivable. After arranging a tow truck and taxi home, their request for security footage was denied, leaving them without recourse for the damage.
Ryanair’s Zero-Tolerance Stance
A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed police involvement, stating the passenger consumed items without payment and ignored crew instructions. “We operate a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behavior to protect passengers and crew,” they stated, standing by their decision despite passenger accounts contradicting this version of events.
