Bailiffs Storm Ryanair Flight in Austria Over £742 Compensation Dispute
In a dramatic escalation of a long-running legal dispute, Austrian bailiffs have stormed a Ryanair aircraft at Linz Airport. The enforcement action was taken after the budget airline repeatedly ignored a court order to pay €890 (approximately £742) in compensation and legal costs to an unnamed female passenger.
Flight Boarded During Scheduled Departure
The incident occurred on Monday as the Ryanair flight, which operates from Birmingham and was bound for London, prepared for departure from Linz Airport in Austria. Austrian enforcement agents boarded the aircraft and executed a court-ordered seizure procedure.
A bailiff entered the plane and affixed a seizure sticker to the cabin, granting the court legal control over the aircraft. This action means authorities could theoretically sell the plane to recover the outstanding debt if Ryanair fails to pay.
Airport Officials Confirm Enforcement Action
"We were informed that there was a pending claim against Ryanair in court and that a bailiff has been instructed by the district court of the city of Traun to carry out an official act," said a spokesperson for Linz Airport, located approximately 180 kilometers from Vienna.
"We accompanied the bailiff to the aircraft, where the bailiff carried out his official duties. There was a corresponding court order. We took the bailiff to the aircraft. There, he carried out his official duties and, as mentioned, placed the seizure seal on the aircraft," the spokesperson added.
Despite the dramatic intervention, the aircraft was permitted to depart as scheduled. "The aircraft then took off for London as scheduled," confirmed Ingo Hagedorn, head of communications at Linz Airport.
Origins of the Compensation Dispute
The legal row stems from a delayed flight in July 2024. The woman at the center of the case was scheduled to travel to Palma with two companions, but faced a delay exceeding ten hours. She subsequently arranged and paid for alternative transportation at her own expense.
While Ryanair reimbursed the original ticket price, the airline refused to pay the €250 compensation owed under passenger rights regulations, plus an additional €105 for the cost of the alternative ticket. The unpaid amount, plus interest and legal costs, has now reached €890.
Ryanair's Response and Potential Consequences
Ryanair has the option to settle the debt by paying €890, which includes €355 in compensation plus interest and legal costs associated with the proceedings. If the company continues to refuse payment, the aircraft could potentially be auctioned to recover the funds.
When questioned about whether it plans to settle the debt, Ryanair provided a contradictory statement. "Any information to the contrary would be objectively incorrect," said the airline, which competes with carriers including Easyjet, Jet2 and TUI. The company insisted that none of its aircraft have been seized, despite the documented enforcement action at Linz Airport.
This incident highlights the growing tension between budget airlines and passengers seeking compensation for flight disruptions, with courts increasingly willing to take strong enforcement measures when airlines ignore legal rulings.
