Ryanair has dismissed its chief pilot for what is alleged to be “a pattern of repeated inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour towards a number of female junior pilots”.
Aidan Murray, 58, had been with the Irish airline for 28 years. He was appointed to the most senior and powerful job in flight operations in 2020.
The Independent understands that an anonymous complaint was received late last month about inappropriate behaviour, and was followed by further reports from eight other female Ryanair flight crew of alleged unwanted approaches.
An investigation revealed a pattern whereby Mr Murray had swapped rosters in order to fly with certain female pilots. He is also alleged to have sent inappropriate text messages.
The decision to sack the chief pilot was taken on Tuesday evening.
Mr Murray allegedly wrote messages to women saying that they “had an amazing body” and an “amazing ass”.
Staff at Ryanair DAC, the Dublin-based main unit of the airline, were told in a message this morning about an investigation into Mr Murray’s conduct.
They were told the chief pilot was “in breach of our anti-harassment policy” for “a pattern of repeated inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour towards a number of female junior pilots”.
The internal statement added: “We are determined to ensure that all our people can come to work in a safe and secure environment.
“We would ask all of you to respect the privacy and integrity of those brave individuals who came forward to assist us in this investigation.”
In a public statement, a Ryanair spokesperson said: “We do not comment on queries relating to individual employees.”
The Independent has sought to contact Mr Murray for comment but he has yet to respond.
Ryanair’s Code of Business Conduct & Ethics says: “The working environment created by Ryanair promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices, including harassment (sexual, physical or verbal).”
It adds: “All concerns, questions, and complaints will be taken seriously and handled promptly, confidentially and professionally.”
The code of conduct also says: “Ryanair encourages people who have concerns about suspected serious misconduct or any breach or suspected breach of law to come forward and express these concerns without fear of punishment or unfair treatment.
“All allegations of wrongdoing will be addressed in line with the appropriate policy and where appropriate, thoroughly investigated.”
The Independent believes an appeals process forms part of any disciplinary procedure.
There is no suggestion that safety was compromised at any stage.
Ryanair is Europe’s biggest airline in terms of passenger numbers. Its largest base is at London Stansted.
According to the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa), female pilots make up only 6 per cent of the total flight crew worldwide. The pilots’ union is campaigning for more diversity on the flight deck, and has enlisted UK government support.
Dirty aul bastard
You had me at ryanair
This is another example of the problems with woke culture nowadays. Us aul lads can’t even be out and out sex pests anymore.
Theres no fucking craic anymore in work.
Probably still thinks he’s in the olden days when a pilot was a highly esteemed job (it still is but not to the same extent)and came with a certain sex appeal
Ahhh it’s just a bit of banter! Only joking don’t kill me ya fiends!
haha man was really living that Ron Burgundy lifestyle
Credit to Ryanair for investigating and dealing with quickly once reported. Good example to set, that even their most senior staff will be dismissed when appropriate.
I find it bizarre how they can do these things and not see how outrageously inappropriate it is.
He wasn’t sacked, he was grounded.
It’s infuriating that after all this time, we still have to put up with nonsense like this. Especially for a pilot, years of training and education, only to be reduced to ‘a nice ass’ when you’re trying to do your job. Glad this is deeply frowned upon nowadays, but no doubt there will be someone who thinks he wasn’t doing any harm. 🙄
Probably just a misunderstanding tbf. “Full flaps out there, Mary”.
Or a few misjudged Airplane quotes, “Have you ever seen a grown man naked?”.
[deleted]
It’s always the baldies!
Say what you want about their stinginess, this was the correct way to handle it. Seems to have been handled efficiently, without faffing about and with actual consequences
You’d think a lad his age would have bit more cop on ffs
We need to educate young men that finding women to fuck should be done outside the workplace in their own free time.
GF is crew for another Airline..the captains try to ride everyone.
One married fella messaged her on instagram. His wife and kids were on her next flight with him as she had to work.
32 comments
In case anyone has trouble accessing the article:
Ryanair has dismissed its chief pilot for what is alleged to be “a pattern of repeated inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour towards a number of female junior pilots”.
Aidan Murray, 58, had been with the Irish airline for 28 years. He was appointed to the most senior and powerful job in flight operations in 2020.
The Independent understands that an anonymous complaint was received late last month about inappropriate behaviour, and was followed by further reports from eight other female Ryanair flight crew of alleged unwanted approaches.
An investigation revealed a pattern whereby Mr Murray had swapped rosters in order to fly with certain female pilots. He is also alleged to have sent inappropriate text messages.
The decision to sack the chief pilot was taken on Tuesday evening.
Mr Murray allegedly wrote messages to women saying that they “had an amazing body” and an “amazing ass”.
Staff at Ryanair DAC, the Dublin-based main unit of the airline, were told in a message this morning about an investigation into Mr Murray’s conduct.
They were told the chief pilot was “in breach of our anti-harassment policy” for “a pattern of repeated inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour towards a number of female junior pilots”.
The internal statement added: “We are determined to ensure that all our people can come to work in a safe and secure environment.
“We would ask all of you to respect the privacy and integrity of those brave individuals who came forward to assist us in this investigation.”
In a public statement, a Ryanair spokesperson said: “We do not comment on queries relating to individual employees.”
The Independent has sought to contact Mr Murray for comment but he has yet to respond.
Ryanair’s Code of Business Conduct & Ethics says: “The working environment created by Ryanair promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices, including harassment (sexual, physical or verbal).”
It adds: “All concerns, questions, and complaints will be taken seriously and handled promptly, confidentially and professionally.”
The code of conduct also says: “Ryanair encourages people who have concerns about suspected serious misconduct or any breach or suspected breach of law to come forward and express these concerns without fear of punishment or unfair treatment.
“All allegations of wrongdoing will be addressed in line with the appropriate policy and where appropriate, thoroughly investigated.”
The Independent believes an appeals process forms part of any disciplinary procedure.
There is no suggestion that safety was compromised at any stage.
Ryanair is Europe’s biggest airline in terms of passenger numbers. Its largest base is at London Stansted.
According to the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa), female pilots make up only 6 per cent of the total flight crew worldwide. The pilots’ union is campaigning for more diversity on the flight deck, and has enlisted UK government support.
Dirty aul bastard
You had me at ryanair
This is another example of the problems with woke culture nowadays. Us aul lads can’t even be out and out sex pests anymore.
Theres no fucking craic anymore in work.
Probably still thinks he’s in the olden days when a pilot was a highly esteemed job (it still is but not to the same extent)and came with a certain sex appeal
Ahhh it’s just a bit of banter! Only joking don’t kill me ya fiends!
haha man was really living that Ron Burgundy lifestyle
Credit to Ryanair for investigating and dealing with quickly once reported. Good example to set, that even their most senior staff will be dismissed when appropriate.
I find it bizarre how they can do these things and not see how outrageously inappropriate it is.
He wasn’t sacked, he was grounded.
It’s infuriating that after all this time, we still have to put up with nonsense like this. Especially for a pilot, years of training and education, only to be reduced to ‘a nice ass’ when you’re trying to do your job. Glad this is deeply frowned upon nowadays, but no doubt there will be someone who thinks he wasn’t doing any harm. 🙄
Probably just a misunderstanding tbf. “Full flaps out there, Mary”.
Or a few misjudged Airplane quotes, “Have you ever seen a grown man naked?”.
[deleted]
It’s always the baldies!
Say what you want about their stinginess, this was the correct way to handle it. Seems to have been handled efficiently, without faffing about and with actual consequences
You’d think a lad his age would have bit more cop on ffs
We need to educate young men that finding women to fuck should be done outside the workplace in their own free time.
GF is crew for another Airline..the captains try to ride everyone.
One married fella messaged her on instagram. His wife and kids were on her next flight with him as she had to work.
https://preview.redd.it/1cz5zjukd76b1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=8583b1bebf0736c798229f8ca0a14c7c4435b6d9
Delighted for the creep. Too much of this sort of thing goes unpunished.
The Pat Mustard of the skies. Except no one wants him.
He has the head of Bertie Ahern on him!
Will Ryanair twitter meme about this?
Did he get her to say cockpit ?
Shape of thon.
28 years of sexual harassment and only now? Typical.
Why was he even flying?
He was responsible for all of their flights, I thought it was solely a managerial role?
What did you do during covid grandad?
He’s a looker isn’t he 😍
If you’re a bit tipsy and squint he kinda looks like Bertie. Or atleast a brother/cousin
Being told you have an amazing body and amazing ass. Some women are never happy. I’d be delighted if someone complimented me like that.