Rob Horgan
A RETIRED teacher boarded a plane to the UK using only a photocopy of his bus pass.
Ryanair accepted the identification after pensioner John Williams had his passport stolen from his hotel room in Lanzarote.
The Home Office are now investigating the decision to let him travel.
“I pointed out to the checkout staff that at the bottom of the bus pass it says ‘given out by Her Majesty’s Service’. I was trying everything to get back,” Williams, 65, said.
“She phoned through to her supervisor and said that was OK. I was made up.”
However the decision to let him fly raised a few eyebrows on landing at John Lennon Airport, Liverpool, UK.
Mr Williams added: “When I got back to Liverpool, they were furious and said ‘How did you get back on just this?’. They were laughing as well, though.
“It was not only a bus pass, but a photocopy of a bus pass. I wouldn’t even get on a bus with that.”
A Ryanair spokesman said they had a ‘duty of care’ to get passengers home when they have lost their passport.
However a Home Office spokesman said the situation will need to be examined further.
He said: “Border Force officers carried out identity checks and established that he was a British national who previously held a valid passport.
“It is vitally important that airlines ensure they know who is on their planes and carry out proper document checks. We are investigating the circumstances.”
Hilarious, maybe all those with UK bus passes will soon b Lole able to meander gently through Europe on the local bus services.
Ryanair were just trying to be helpful to someone clearly in difficulties. The guy should have just been grateful and kept his mouth shut afterwards. What’s the point in getting well-meaning staff in trouble after the event by featuring it in the Liverpool Echo ? They should have left him stranded in Lanzarote if this is gratitude. He has undoubtedly queered the pitch for anybody else who finds themselves in the same predicament who might have been able to get home via the same means.
Quite correct, the man was stuck,, I had my passport stolen and it is not a nice feeling wondering how you are going to get home, full marks to Ryan air,,,