(Bloomberg) -- Ryanair Holdings Plc defended its response to a case of racial abuse on a flight last week, saying the Irish carrier reported the matter to police as soon as it became aware of the incident.
A video of the event, that went viral on social media, showed a white man racially abusing a black female pensioner. Cabin crew were aware of an argument, but not the racial content, Ryanair said in a statement Friday. The discount airline only became aware of racism after the video was posted on the internet.
While the woman said she hasn't received an apology from Ryanair, the airline claims it sent her a letter and email on Sunday morning. “We will not tolerate unruly behavior like this at any time and any passenger who acts in such a manner will be banned for life," according to the letter, seen by Bloomberg.
Read more about criticism of Ryanair over reaction to racial abuse.
“We again extend our very sincere apologies to this passenger for the regrettable, and unacceptable remarks that were made to her by an adjacent passenger,” the airline said in the statement. “Ryanair treated it with the urgency and seriousness it warranted.”
The passenger who was filmed being racially abusive apologized on the Good Morning Britain TV show on Friday. “I am not a racist person by any means,” David Mesher said. It was “just a fit of temper at the time.”
Delsie Gayle, 77, rejected his apology.
To contact the reporter on this story: Ellen Milligan in London at emilligan11@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net, John Bowker, Tara Patel
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