Posted in Belfast Dublin News Republic of Ireland Ryanair Storms UK News Weather World

Ryanair plane forced to abort landing after being battered by Storm Amy

Storm Amy has caused widespread travel disruption across the UK and Ireland.

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Posted in Columnists Lifestyle Opinion Primark Ryanair Travel Travel Advice UK News

A £25 micro suitcase is my secret weapon when travelling Ryanair

Many a traveller has fallen victim to Ryanair’s strict requirements in the past.

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Posted in Europe Travel Flights France Lifestyle Ryanair Strikes Travel Travel Advice UK News

Ryanair warns 100,000 passengers will have flights cancelled next week: ‘Needless disruption’

Strikes are planned for October 7.

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Posted in Bosnia and Herzegovina easyJet Europe Travel Georgia Istanbul Lifestyle Ryanair Sarajevo Tbilisi Travel Travel Inspiration Turkey UK News Wizz Air

I’ve been to 56 countries — this is where I’d go to dodge the EU fingerprint system

The next time you travel from the UK to Europe, you might notice some changes at passport control.

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Posted in Bournemouth Airport British Airways easyJet England Europe Travel Flights France Greece Italy Lifestyle Portugal Ryanair Spain Strikes The Netherlands Travel Travel News UK News

All the European airport strikes planned in October 2025 and beyond

The Metro Travel team has rounded up all the strikes set to take place from now until the end of the month.

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Posted in Flights News Ryanair Tourism UK UK News

Rowdy stag-do forces Ryanair flight to divert before they’re dragged off by armed police

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A rowdy British stag-do forced a Benidorm-bound Ryanair flight to land in France before being dragged from their seats by police.

Footage shows a swearing man grappling with armed officers before being led off the plane as passengers cheer and sing ‘cheerio, cheerio, cheerio’.

The flight from London Luton to Alicante on Friday was forced to land in Toulouse after ‘a small group of passengers became disruptive onboard,’ Ryanair said.

Several men are seen being hauled from the plane by French gendarmerie in the video, which has racked up hundreds of thousands of views.

When French police board the plane the first two go quietly, but things escalate when officers approach a tattooed man wearing a baseball cap.

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Chaos ensues – with police grappling with the man who is launched across the aisle towards the passengers opposite.

Shocked passengers gasp at the unfolding scene, with many whipping out their phones to record the spectacle.

Spain flight grounded because of rowdy British stag do picture: @bigphil321 METROGRAB taken without permission
Several men are seen being hauled from the plane by French gendarmerie in the video
(Picture: @bigphil321)

Over the loudspeakers, a flight attendant can be heard trying to calm the growing chaos, urging people to remain in their seats.

The tattooed man can be heard screaming ‘get off my f****** neck’ before eventually being led away.

Passengers are then heard cheering the police, with some caling out ‘cheers’ as they depart.

One social media user, whose friend was reportedly on the plane, claimed the ejected holidaymakers left the stag all on his own.

Ryanair said it had a ‘strict zero tolerance policy towards passenger misconduct’ and that it was now ‘a matter for local police’.

The incident won’t do Brits abroad reputation any good – especially after a similar incident earlier this month.

Spain flight grounded because of rowdy British stag do picture: @bigphil321 METROGRAB taken without permission
The tattooed man can be heard screaming ‘get off my f*cking neck’ before eventually being led away. (Picture: @bigphil321)

Police ejected members of a British stag from a ‘carnage’ flight – again to Alicante – on Thursday, September 4.

Flight FR9079 from Leeds Bradford to Alicante, Spain, was met by the Guardia Civil after touching down at Alicante Airport.

According to Ryanair, cabin crew had called ahead for police assistance after the passengers ‘became disruptive onboard’.

Footage shows local police wrestling a man off the plane as passengers shout ‘get off the f******plane’.

British holidaymakers’ boozy behaviour was so bad that, until 2021, the Foreign Office regularly produced ‘British Behaviour Abroad’ reports.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Posted in Flights Heathrow Airport News Ryanair Travel News UK UK News

How prepared is the UK against airport cyber hacks?

A colourful graphics image with an airplane and runway behind it.
Should passengers lose sleep over cyber threats to aviation? (Picture: Metro)

The spate of cyber and hybrid attacks targeting aviation has put the industry – and passengers – on high alert.

Thousands of travellers had their weekend plans upended after a suspected cyberattack hampered ground operations across major European airports like Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin.

Airline staff were forced to process check-in details manually after a ‘technical issue’ affected US firm Collins Aerospace, causing significant delays and disruption over the weekend.

Now all eyes have turned to Denmark after mysterious drones were spotted flying over four of its airports – Aalborg, Sonderborg and Esbjerg, as well as at the Skrydstrup airbase – last night and this morning.

This came after drones were spotted hovering above Copenhagen and Oslo’s airports earlier this week.

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The incidents have reminded us that aviation is exposed to the whims of malign actors – despite a constant race to plug any vulnerabilities.

So, how prepared is the UK for the likelihood of more cyber attacks targeting aviation – and how worried should you be?

Mantas Sabeckis, an ethical hacker and infosecurity researcher, told Metro: ‘It seems that the UK aviation world is taking cyber threats seriously and working hard to stay ahead. Groups like the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Cyber Security Centre have laid out clear plans and guidance to help airports, airlines, and everyone involved keep their digital systems safe.

People at T4 London Heathrow Airport, after flights were delayed and cancelled at airports including Heathrow after cyber attack.
Passengers had no choice but to wait at Heathrow’s Terminal T4 after the cyber meltdown, which began on Friday evening (Picture: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire)

‘They push for basics like keeping systems updated, training staff on cyber risks, and having a solid plan to bounce back quickly if something goes wrong.’

He pointed to the UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey, which shows that around 76% of large UK businesses have plans in place for cyber incidents.

‘That said, aviation is very complex, with lots of different companies and suppliers working together,’ Mr Sabeckis continued.

Are fully digital boarding passes safe?

Some airlines have moved towards relying more and more on digital boarding passes.

Ryanair will soon stop using paper boarding passes as it goes 100% digital, a move that has been labelled a ‘nightmare.’

When asked whether now is a good time for airlines like Ryanair to move to fully digital boarding passes, Mr Sabeckis said: ‘Moving to 100% online boarding passes can make things faster and more convenient for travellers, but it also comes with risks, especially given recent cyber incidents.

‘When airports or airlines face cyberattacks or power outages, staff sometimes have to fall back on manual processes like handwritten boarding passes, which slows everything down and can cause confusion.

‘I think digital boarding passes are the future, and now is still a good time for airlines like Ryanair to continue adopting digital boarding passes, but they need to do it carefully. They should keep in mind that the aviation sector saw a 600% year-on-year increase in cyberattacks, and this means they must prepare for potentially more frequent and sophisticated cyber threats that could disrupt automated systems.’

‘This means there are still weak spots – like the recent cyberattack linked to Collins Aerospace that caused big headaches at airports.

‘So, even though the UK is doing well compared to many places, the job of protecting aviation cyber systems is never done. You have to keep learning, improving, and staying alert as hackers get smarter.’

But despite the precautions and requirements, malign actors can still find and exploit cracks in the system – and airports are seen as a high-value target.

Dr Daniel Gardham, from the University of Surrey Centre for Cyber Security, said it is ‘unsurprising’ that attackers are going after aviation.

‘There’s a reason the attackers are going after these very visible targets, he told Metro.

‘One is that it affects the everyday person – it brings your attention to these matters, whether you care about it or not.  

‘And secondly, with airports in particular, different systems have to work together.’

A man uses a smartphone as travellers queue to check in at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, following a disruption to check-in and boarding systems caused by a cyber attack
The state of queues at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4 following the disruption over the weekend (Picture: Reuters)

He said the systems – ranging from software managing the conveyor belt and baggage to the fuel pumps for aircraft – have to talk to each, creating a bigger ‘attack surface.’

‘It is unsurprising that they are able to find vulnerabilities at an airport, just because of the scale of the operation, and the fact that it comprises so many pieces that have to work together.  

These complexities are unlikely to disappear anytime soon, despite advancements in AI and technology – but an average traveller shouldn’t lose sleep over possible cyber-related flight disruption.

Dr Gardham said: ‘I’m sure the airports themselves are very worried, because they know the target they paint.’

While passengers should be mindful about cybersecurity, there’s not much passengers themselves can do, both experts agreed.

Dr Gardham recommended taking out travel insurance to make sure that ‘you are covered in case something happens.’

Mr Sabeckis said that most cyberattacks target airports and airline systems ‘rather than passengers directly.’

What about aviation in the US?

It is not just the UK and European travel hubs that have been targeted in recent years.

Airlines in the US fell victim to the Scattered Spider cybercrime network shortly after hackers paralysed Marks and Spencer payment systems in the UK, leading the FBI to issue an alert about the group in June.

Passengers queue in line at Brussels airport where dozens of flights were canceled following a cyberattack affecting multiple airports in Europe, 21 September 2025.
Brussels (pictured), Berlin and Heathrow were the worst affected by the latest large-scale cyber attack (Picture: EPA0

The FBI said it has seen the Scattered Spider cybercriminal group ‘expanding its targeting to include the airline sector.’

‘These actors rely on social engineering techniques, often impersonating employees or contractors to deceive IT help desks into granting access,’ the FBI warned.

Concerns were raised earlier this year over the impact on US aviation safety after Donald Trump launched attacks against the Federal Aviation Authority and fired air traffic controllers in the aftermath of the American Airlines crash over the Potomac River.

Mr Sabeckis told Metro: ‘It doesn’t seem that policies under President Donald Trump have directly made US aviation more vulnerable to cyberattacks. However, cybersecurity readiness can be influenced by changes in government priorities and funding decisions.

‘During the Trump administration, some regulatory and security programs underwent shifts (for instance, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency faced proposed cuts) that may have affected long-term investments in cyber defense, but these impacts are generally indirect and part of broader, complex factors.

‘Currently, the US aviation sector faces similar cybersecurity challenges as the UK and other countries, including ransomware, supply chain risks, and phishing attacks. In 2024, Bridewell reported that 55% of US civil aviation organisations had experienced a ransomware attack over the previous 12 months. This shows the growing risk regardless of specific political influences.

‘Overall, maintaining and improving cyber defenses in US aviation depends on consistent funding, strong regulation, and collaboration across public and private sectors, which requires ongoing attention beyond any single administration.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Posted in Europe Travel Flights Lifestyle Ryanair Travel Travel News UK News

Ryanair’s ‘nightmare’ boarding pass change is coming — here’s all you need to know

There’s one exception to the rule.

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Posted in Bournemouth Airport British Airways easyJet England Europe Travel Flights France Italy Lifestyle Portugal Ryanair Spain Strikes The Netherlands Travel Travel News UK News

All the European airport strikes planned in September 2025 and beyond

Worried about whether your holiday could suffer? The Metro Travel team has rounded up all the strikes set to take place from now until the end of the month.

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Posted in easyJet Europe Travel Jet2 Lifestyle Ryanair Spain Stansted Airport Travel Travel Inspiration UK News

The ‘unknown province’ in Europe with 21C November heat and new UK flights

Murcia, in southeastern Spain, has been described as Spain’s ‘unknown province’ — even for the Spanish.

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Posted in easyJet Europe Travel Flights France Italy Lifestyle Portugal Ryanair Spain Strikes Travel Travel News UK News

All the European airport strikes planned in September 2025 and beyond

Worried about whether your holiday could suffer? The Metro Travel team has rounded up all the strikes set to take place from now until the end of the month.

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Posted in Canary Islands Europe Travel Flights Lifestyle Ryanair Spain Travel Travel News UK News

Ryanair rival adds new flights to Canary Island destination just axed by Irish airline

A budget airline known as a Ryanair rival has increased flights to Tenerife after the Irish carrier eliminated one million seats from its schedule.

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Posted in Entertainment Malta Music Festivals Ryanair Showbiz UK News

Ryanair flight in chaos after huge music artist takes plane to Malta festival

That was a surprise.

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Posted in Canary Islands Europe Travel Flights Lifestyle Malaga Ryanair Spain Travel Travel News UK News

Ryanair to axe 1,000,000 more Spain flight seats as airline CEO says ‘I’ll fly elsewhere’

It’s all over a row about airport fees.

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Posted in Europe Travel Lifestyle Ryanair Spain Stansted Airport Travel Travel Inspiration UK News

Spain’s lesser-known ‘Garden of Europe’ that’s 21C in November gets new UK flight

Murcia, in southeastern Spain, has been described as Spain’s ‘unknown province’ — even for the Spanish.

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Posted in easyJet Flights Jet2 Lifestyle Ryanair Travel Travel Advice TUI UK News

All the food and drink banned on EasyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI flights

Check before you board.

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Posted in Features Flights In Focus Lifestyle Morocco North Africa Ryanair Travel UK News

‘It makes no sense’: Ryanair’s strange new route into the world’s oldest conflict zone

Ryanair is no stranger to controversy, but a recent move has drawn it into the crossfire of one of the world’s oldest conflicts.

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Posted in Barcelona Catalonia Europe Travel Flights Lifestyle Madrid Ryanair Spain Travel Travel News UK News

Ryanair cancels Canary Island flights as it cuts 1,000,000 seats from Spanish tourist routes

So which airports will see the most cuts?

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Posted in Europe Travel Flights Lifestyle Ryanair Travel Travel News UK News

Ryanair responds after major boarding pass change labelled ‘a nightmare’ by passengers

The change is arriving in November.

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Posted in Barcelona Catalonia Europe Travel Flights Lifestyle Madrid Ryanair Spain Travel Travel News UK News

Ryanair set to axe 1,000,000 flights to airports across Spain by 2026

The decision is thought to be a reaction to a rise in airport fees.

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Posted in Europe Travel Flights Lifestyle Ryanair Travel Travel Advice UK News

Is Ryanair really relaxing its cabin baggage allowance rules? Here’s the truth

Is it too good to be true?

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Posted in Manchester Manchester Airport Morocco News Ryanair UK UK News

Ryanair flight grounded at Manchester Airport ‘after passenger tried opening emergency exit’

The woman was escorted off the plane by Greater Manchester Police.

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Posted in easyJet Europe Travel Flights Lifestyle Ryanair Spain Travel Travel Inspiration UK News

The cheapest Spanish holiday destinations revealed – from £13 flights to £31 hotels

If you’re still looking to book a cheap holiday to Spain in 2025 to enjoy the remaining summer, then good news – you can still find some affordable deals.

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Posted in Bulgaria News Ryanair Stansted Airport UK News World

Fighter jets called to escort London Stansted bound Ryanair plane after security threat

There were 174 passengers on board.

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Posted in easyJet Flights Lifestyle Madeira Portugal Ryanair Tourism Travel Travel News UK News

‘Europe’s Hawaii’ that’s often dubbed a ‘Canaries alternative’ is having a record-breaking year

With record-breaking airline traffic and cruise ship calls, Madeira is really having a moment.

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