Passengers on flight FR4757 were stunned when the captain informed them upon arrival that none of their bags had made it onboardHelena Vesty NHS, social care and patients reporter and Lewis Clarke
11:23, 20 Jul 2025
The group of friends from Taunton who were stuck at Gran Canaria Airport
Dozens of tourists have been left frantically searching for basic essentials under the Spanish sun after a Ryanair flight allegedly touched down without a single piece of checked baggage.
Travellers aboard flight FR4757, which took off from Bristol to Gran Canaria on Friday, July 18, were left baffled when the pilot announced on landing that none of their suitcases had made it onto the plan due to “time constraints” following a security problem at Bristol Airport.
Among those affected was a party of 11 mates from Taunton, who had jetted off to Maspalomas for birthday and graduation celebration.
Madeline Cooper, 22, said the journey appeared normal until they reached their destination.
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“We had absolutely no issues at all until we landed. Then the captain said they made the difficult decision to not bring any of our luggage,” she explained.
“They wouldn’t say what the security issue was – just that every single person’s bag had been left behind.”
The group quickly discovered they weren’t the only ones affected, reports Bristol Live. “We were told today that it was 70 bags that didn’t fly. One pram made it across, that’s it,” Madeline added.
“People didn’t even believe it at first – some thought it was a joke.”
Vital belongings left behind included medicines, contact lenses, cosmetics and sun protection. Sophie Payne, one of the party, suffers severe asthma and found herself stranded without her inhaler.
“It was really stressful,” she said. “I take it twice a day and it gets worse at night.
“We’ve had to search for a pharmacy in an area we don’t know.”
The group, staying at the Cordial Green Golf Bungalows, were informed that their luggage might arrive by Saturday night.
But as of 6pm, they had not received any updates from Ryanair.
“There’s been zero communication,” Madeline commented. “They keep telling us to use the app, but some older passengers don’t even have smartphones.”
The ordeal has already disrupted their plans. “We’ve had to pay €60 just to get to a shopping centre and back for clean underwear and essentials,” Madeline said. “We’re all students – we can’t afford to keep replacing everything.”
With temperatures soaring and no suncream in sight, Sophie summed up the mood: “There’s a lot of burnt bodies around here.”
Other travellers vented their frustration on social media.
One user said: “Great start to the holiday as Ryanair decided to bring 0 of the suitcases from Bristol to Gran Canaria. No heart medication for me tomorrow.”
Another shared: “Currently in Gran Canaria with zero belongings.”
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Despite the problems, the group is still hopeful that their luggage will turn up in time for their activities, which include a birthday celebration, a trip to a water park, and a private boat tour.
“This is provided that we are able to get our luggage,” Sophie pointed out. “If we don’t our stuff then it’s completely ruined the holiday.”
Some of the group face an hour-long round trip back to the airport to retrieve their suitcases.
Ryanair and Bristol Airport have been contacted for comment.