An unusual event has occurred in Austria, where a court decided to seize a Ryanair plane due to a debt of 890 euros to a passenger. The news was reported by Austrian public broadcaster ORF and has attracted media attention for the peculiar way the decision was implemented.
The case began in July 2024, when a woman planned to travel with two companions to Palma de Mallorca. Her flight was delayed for more than 13 hours, and after a long wait at the airport, she decided to buy a new ticket to reach her destination at her own expense.
As a result of the delay, the passenger requested reimbursement of additional costs, which included a new ticket and other travel expenses, totaling 890 euros. Despite attempts to obtain payment from Ryanair, the company did not pay the amount owed.
Her lawyer took the case to court, and the ruling allowed that if the company did not pay, one of its aircraft could be seized to guarantee payment.
At Linz airport, when the bailiff went to enforce the decision, he initially demanded immediate payment from the pilot. But since Ryanair does not accept cash, payment could not be made. For this reason, the bailiff decided to seize the plane, placing a label indicating that it was confiscated. The passenger's lawyer said that if the company did not pay within the specified deadline, the plane could be sold at auction to repay the debt.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion in Austria and Europe, showing that even a major airline can face serious legal action if it fails to respect court decisions and passenger rights./Albinfo.ch
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