Ryanair defends removal of blind people from plane
Irish airline Ryanair has defended its decision to remove a group of blind people from one of its planes at Stansted Airport in Britain.
The nine passengers were told they would have to disembark shortly before take-off because Ryanair's safety regulations allow no more than four "disabled" people on any one flight.
One of the nine said she had telephoned the airline months in advance to ensure there would be no problem, but a Ryanair spokesman insisted today that no advance notification had been given.
The airline also defended its safety regulations, saying they had been agreed with disability rights groups a long time ago.
"Safety has to be Ryanair's number-one priority," the spokesman said.
"We apologise to these passengers, but at the end of the day, they did not inform as they are required to do of their disability at the time of booking."
