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Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary controversies

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2026-09-13 13:39 UTC → 2026-09-15 15:25 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary is facing several controversies involving operational, safety, and verbal issues. Regarding aviation safety, O’Leary has disputed accounts of a July incident on a Boeing 737-800 flight from Greece to Germany. While a passenger reported being partially sucked out of a broken window due to pressure changes, O’Leary maintains that while the individual was pulled toward the opening, no part of the body actually went through it. Preliminary findings from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board suggest engine fan blade fragments may have struck the fuselage to cause the failure. Following the incident, O’Leary announced that the airline will contest a multi-million dollar compensation claim filed by the passenger, 61-year-old Ljubisa Karović, who sustained serious injuries. While the passenger’s legal counsel asserts that Karović’s head and right arm were sucked through the window opening, O’Leary maintains that no part of the passenger's body exited the aircraft. The NTSB is continuing its investigation in collaboration with Boeing. In operational matters, O’Leary has accused the UK air traffic control operator, NATS, of lying about the cause of a recent system outage that resulted in thousands of cancellations. He has called for the resignation of NATS CEO Martin Rolfe. Additionally, O’Leary has faced political condemnation for referring to rival airlines as “high-fare rapists,” a remark criticized by UK and Irish officials for potentially trivializing sexual violence. On the financial front, nearly 40 percent of Ryanair shareholders voted against a proposed £129 million pay and share option deal for the CEO, though the plan is expected to move forward.

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