Ryanair was weak over racist abuse

■ Although not an air traveller myself, I can’t fail to notice the amount of controversy that seems to follow the Irish airline Ryanair.

The current row involving the disgusting racial abuse levelled at an elderly passenger by a fellow traveller should have been dealt with by the cabin crew on the spot and the offending passenger removed from the plane.

Thanks to social media, there can be no argument as to who was at fault, and unless Ryanair shows some strength and bans the bespectacled thug from future travel, people should think twice before travelling with the airline.

Brian Davies

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

■ I was disgusted to read about the racial abuse spouted by a male passenger towards Mrs Gayle on a Ryanair flight from Barcelona to London Stansted.

But what also angers me is the fact that Mrs Gayle was moved to another seat. It should have been the man who was moved.

He should be ashamed of himself – and this when Mrs Gayle had been taken away by her daughter to cheer her up on the anniversary of her husband’s death.

Debbie Richens South East London

■ Ryanair is quite rightly under attack for not dealing fairly and effectively with a passenger who racially abused and threatened elderly Delsie Gayle on one of its flights. It says it has contacted Mrs Gayle, but with what, an apology, an offer of compensation?

Ryanair should now ban the offensive passenger from any future flights and offer Mrs Gayle a paid holiday. Diane Silva, Lytham, Lancs

■ Did this man pay for three seats? No. So he had no right to dictate who sat next to him. If he had a disability and found it hard to get past her, he should have booked the aisle seat.

He was just rude and nasty, and Ryanair should have done more to help the innocent party, but instead has passed the buck to the police – after many complaints. However, as this incident occurred abroad and not here in the UK, I expect nothing will be done.

Jan Thomas

Stockport, Gtr Manchester

■ A bigot abused an elderly woman in the foulest terms and refused to sit next to her on a plane because she was black. Yet instead of booting him off the plane, Ryanair staff moved the victim of his tirade and left him where he was. Therefore Ryanair staff unwittingly endorsed this racist abuse.

Sasha Simic, North London

■ Ryanair should have apologised to the lady because this incident wasn’t handled properly.

My heart goes out to Mrs Gayle because she should not have been spoken to like that. The offensive passenger should have been thrown off the plane and arrested.

It’s a good job a young man intervened or he probably would have carried on the abuse.

Lynne Bannister

St Helens, Merseyside

■ I am absolutely heartbroken for this poor lady.

This man should have been removed from the plane. Regards the future, he should never be allowed to travel with Ryanair again.

Jayne Yaghmour, Birmingham