A man in Ireland was labeled a disruptive passenger over a flight he never boarded, reports show
An airline in Ireland that mistakenly placed an innocent man on a no-fly list, and even contacted the man’s boss about the matter, has apologized for the apparent mix-up, reports show.
Airline Ryanair said before Ireland’s High Court that the company "SINCERELY and unreservedly apologised" for wrongly placing Eoin Michael Cahill on a no-fly list over alleged disruptive behavior, Irish newspaper The Journal reported Tuesday, citing court documents. Upon learning of the accusation, Cahill sued the airline for defamation.
Cahill was reportedly slated to fly from Dublin to Coppenhagen on the low-budget airline on Jan. 2, but he remained in Ireland for work purposes. Cahill works for Jones Engineering Group and frequently flies for work purposes between Ireland and Denmark, The Journal reported.
HOLIDAY TRAVEL TURNS TRAGIC WHEN FLIGHT ATTENDANT DIES IN FRONT OF PASSENGERS MOMENTS BEFORE TAKEOFF
Federal police inspect a Ryanair aircraft after the unscheduled landing of the plane at the Berlin International Airport in Schoenefeld near Berlin on Monday, May 31, 2021. (Christophe Gateau/dpa via AP)
During that Jan. 2 flight, an unidentified separate passenger allegedly became disruptive with airline staff, requiring airport police intervention. The airline said that Cahill had been "mistakenly identified" as the disruptive passenger and was placed on the no-fly list.
NO-FLY LISTS: MAJOR AIRLINES REVEAL HOW MANY PASSENGERS ARE BANNED FROM THEIR FLIGHTS
Passengers arrive at Dublin Airport. (Photo by Damien Storan/PA Images via Getty Images)
Cahill’s suit argued that the airline defamed him to his own employer, claiming the airline contacted his boss stating the man was "disruptive" and barred from flying on Ryanair. Cahill said the mix-up has hurt his professional reputation, as he is a frequent traveler.
RYANAIR FLIGHT DIVERTED AFTER MID-AIR BRAWL CREATES CHAOS: REPORTS
General view from the Gravity Bar at Guinness Storehouse on April 22, 2016 in Dublin. (Getty Images)
The airline apologized, and offered to pay Cahill’s legal fees in addition to roughly $10,700 in compensation. The airline also said it would write a letter to Cahill’s employers clarifying the accusations are "fully withdrawn," The Journal reported.
The case officially closed on Tuesday, Business Insider reported. Ryanair did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.