Photo: DPA

Ryanair sued for allegedly buzzing German granny

Published: 19 Nov 09 12:57 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091119-23379.html

Members of a small community near the northern German city of Lübeck have filed a lawsuit against Irish budget airline Ryanair after a low-flying plane allegedly put an 82-year-old woman in the hospital.

The daily Lübecker Nachrichten reported on Thursday that a 500-strong group against jet noise is accusing the airline of negligent bodily harm, endangerment of air traffic and wilful property damage in connection with the incident that occurred last week in Groß Grönau.

The woman apparently suffered a serious shock after a Ryanair jet coming in to land at the Lübeck-Blankensee airport flew so low that it sent several roof tiles crashing into her garden. She is now in the hospital with heart problems.

"The aircraft flew over and the elderly lady, the owner of the house, was in the garden at the time clearing up branches when the tiles came down," police spokeswoman Sonja Kurz told AFP last week.

The Lübecker Nachrichten cited witnesses as saying that the Boeing plane flew much lower over Groß Grönau than normal.

"I almost pulled my head in. Normally the aircraft aren't so low and so loud," one woman who was walking her dog near the old lady’s house told the paper.

A spokesman for state prosecutors in Lübeck confirmed they were investigating, but Ryanair rejects any responsibility for the incident, saying the plane was not flying at an unusual altitude or speed.

AFP/DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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13:28 November 19, 2009 by berlinski
Ryanair were considering imposing a 1 Euro charge to use the WC on board flights but in the end didn't manage it. Maybe the planes fly low so as the customers can take a free leek out the window.
13:39 November 19, 2009 by Mapleleafdude
Sounded different in the radio, Oma was doing fine but for the tiles off the roof. Air Traffic Control reported on the same day that the plane had not been lower than allowed.

Maybe shes trying to get her hands on easy money (choosing an Irish cut-throat is an ill choice though as a prospective victim to scam money off).
13:44 November 19, 2009 by PezMom3
When I read 'buzzing' I thought airport security tasered an elderly woman. That story would've been more interesting...
14:11 November 19, 2009 by Mistress kitty
Haha that's what I thought too. Ryanair never seem to be out of the news these days for doing something wrong, maybe they should just give it up.
14:14 November 19, 2009 by HEM
I believe their motto is "there is no such thing as bad publicity".
15:05 November 19, 2009 by Mistress kitty
Seems to be, oh well if it works for them
20:25 November 19, 2009 by lordkorner
Ryan Air,can anyone remember the days before Low Cost Carriers, I do,I remember flying to Barcelona from Dublin in 1984.I couldn't fly direct. I had to go via London,so it almost took me the best part of a day to get there,and for the privilege and one did indeed feel privileged in those days when one flew,I paid almost 500 hundred Irish pounds,somewhere close to 700 Euros, ah yes ,the good old days before Ryan Air .
21:30 November 19, 2009 by Davey-jo
I don't want to ruin a good story but even Irish planes carry flight recorders; it must be a matter of record how high the plane was flying.
05:20 November 20, 2009 by Californian
"Sorry Goose, but it's time to buzz a tower"
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