"Can't Pay ? We'll Take It Away"

NoodleDoodleMan

Did I miss this earlier - daydreaming at the back of the class again ?

A Ryanair plane was seized by bailiffs in Austria in order to recover unpaid compensation claimed by a passenger over a previous delayed flight.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/travel/ryanair-flight-bound-uk-stormed-33585130

I wonder what O'Leary has to say about it ?

eskbanker

A Ryanair plane was seized by bailiffs in Austria

Er, no - as stated in the article:

"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)," said a spokesperson.

"The aircraft then took off for London as scheduled," Ingo Hagedorn, head of communications at Linz Airport, some 180 kilometres from Vienna, told EFE.

Ryanair has the option of paying the €890 it owes: €355 in compensation plus interest and costs associated with the proceedings. If the company does not pay, the aircraft could even be auctioned off.

When asked by EFE whether it plans to settle the debt, Ryanair replied that none of its aircraft have been seized.

"Any information to the contrary would be objectively incorrect," the airline - which is rivalled by Easyjet, Jet2 and TUI - said.

mebu60

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6659960/can-039-t-pay-we-039-ll-take-it-away

He, or rather Ryanair, said it was not seized. Which is correct as per the article.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6659960/can-039-t-pay-we-039-ll-take-it-away

The story doesnt really make any sense, if it was seized you wouldnt be allowed to take off without the debt being paid and yet the article implies the debt is still outstanding but the flight left on time.

I had an incident once where an airport didnt allow the aircraft to refuel on credit due to outstanding invoice issues. We were delayed a while whilst the pilot found a way to pay but the cost of refuelling a jet is vastly more than €800.

If pilot paid it then the aircraft would have been released and them allowed to continue. Maybe thought that was the easier option and deal with the bosses later when trying to reclaim than be stuck there for hours/days.

flaneurs_lobster

Slight difference between seizing the plane and putting a sticker on a bulkhead.

NoodleDoodleMan

Confused.com

molerat

Usual sloppy journalism. Likely the bailiff took control of the goods, a technical "seizure" where the goods are now the property of the court until the debt is paid and could be properly seized and sold. I suspect an actual seizure could now take place in any EU location.

sheramber

Debt paid

https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2026/03/14/ryanair-nearly-had-a-plane-seized-by-debt-collectors-after-airline-failed-to-pay-court-ordered-compensation-to-passenger/

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925818#Comment_81925818

This version has the plane being delayed unlike the other article. Also unsurprisingly the pilot did attempt to pay the debt but they wouldnt accept cards.

TELLIT01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925539#Comment_81925539

Sloppy journalism in this day and age! Hard to believe.😀