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WATCH: Man catches flight after dashing across runway at Madrid airport

The Bolivian national now faces a hefty fine.

ryan Screengrab / Facebook Screengrab / Facebook / Facebook

THE RYANAIR PASSENGER who ran across the tarmac at Madrid’s main international airport is facing a hefty fine.

Footage published today shows the Bolivian national sprinting across the edge of the runway to try to board the plane.

The footage was originally posted on Facebook by a Spanish trade union.
https://www.facebook.com/AirlineStaffRates/videos/10154521861814497/

Initial reports claiming he missed his flight were incorrect and he did manage to get on the plane and reach his destination.

A Civil Guard spokesman in Gran Canaria, the plane’s destination, said the man was stopped when he reached the holiday island.

The spokesman said: “He breached a range of security measures when he saw he was going to miss his flight and, despite the efforts of ground personnel to stop him, managed to run across the tarmac as the plane was preparing to taxi out to the runway.”

A source close to the case said he was a Bolivian national who was believed to have been travelling alone.

“He wasn’t arrested but he was identified so his name could be passed to Guardia Civil officers in Madrid for them to take the appropriate action.

They didn’t manage to identify him in Madrid. The pilot presumably agreed to let him on board because he had a boarding pass but he was lucky not to have been stopped in Madrid because we’re currently on terror alert level four and he could easily have been mistaken for a terrorist with all the consequences that come with that.

“The man in question is now likely to face a very high fine,” the source said.

In a statement, Ryanair said: “Since this video relates to a security breach at Madrid Airport, it’s a matter for Madrid Airport Police.”

A spokesperson for the Spanish Airports Authority (AENA) said the unnamed offender had broken a fire alarm in an apparent diversionary tactic.

He said: “The incident happened around 9pm on Friday. We called the Civil Guard in after he breached security and broke a fire alarm before reaching the tarmac.

“We don’t know what happened after the Civil Guard were called. The only person who can answer the question of why he acted like he did is the man. It is definitely a first for this airport.”

Read: German police arrest man amid fears Islamic State was planning to attack football matches

Read: British man says he is first quadruple amputee to climb Matterhorn

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    Mute Hugh Corcoran
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:39 PM

    I just can’t believe they let him on the plane.

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    Mute Michael Murray
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:40 PM

    Lucky if he doesn’t get his P45!

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Aug 9th 2016, 9:33 PM

    He was lucky he wasn’t shot on sight. What an incredibly stupid thing to do.

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    Mute stevenocarroll
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    Aug 9th 2016, 11:36 PM

    Nope, new Ryanair policy to slash fees

    get on while taking off

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    Mute Mary Cull
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    Aug 10th 2016, 12:58 AM

    They changed gates three times before boarding. The 3rd time I missed it. The plane took off without me. But had to turn back because my luggage was on board. It only got to the end of the runway.

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    Mute Good Will
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:40 PM

    Terror alert level 4
    Yet he still gets past the security and onto the runways?
    Someone should give him a job as a security consultant.

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:52 PM

    Try that at an American airport and you’ll get a bullet in the head

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    Mute Paul McNevin
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:19 PM

    And a few more for good luck.

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    Mute dstaffx
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    Aug 9th 2016, 9:18 PM

    Ah, a Rage against the machine quote, great

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    Mute Burnsy
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:50 PM

    Now that is Priority Boarding!

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    Mute RandomAct Of Kindnes
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:37 PM

    He jumped from a Jet bridge — Since when did Ryanair start using passenger boarding bridge’s?

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    Mute Critical_Thinker
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:46 PM

    Most, if not all, planes in terminal 1 in Madrid use them.

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    Mute oliverjumelle
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:24 PM

    It’s part of the agreement Ryanair have with the Spanish aviation authority. When on Spanish soil. They must use airbridges

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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:33 PM

    That Michael O Leary lad would do anything for a bit of free publicity..

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    Mute Ufc Dublin
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:05 PM

    Its Ok !! Im a limo Driver

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    Mute Mark Wallace
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:43 PM

    Some sketchy reporting here. There’s no way that a passenger gets on a plane that’s already pushing back. When that happens the doors are closed and the jets engines are running.If the passenger boarded then the plane was still on stand under APU power with the doors open and the stairs attached.

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    Mute John Byrne
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    Aug 9th 2016, 10:49 PM

    Its absolute HorseSh*t!! But when would you expect to find facts on the Journal, the aircraft pictured is under power, the doors are pressure sealed the only way they would open at this phase is under emergency.
    The “journalist” probably read it on Twitter, pathetic

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    Mute John Considine
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:36 PM

    Can’t believe they re-opened the plane for him after it had pulled back from the Terminal…..

    I can only imagine o’Leary has a deal whereby Ryanair gets a large cut of that fine. Then I could see it becoming policy quick enough alright!

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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:03 PM

    The pilot should be sacked.Given the terrorist threat around the world he let’s this cheeky bas#ard board the aircraft.Also the Airport authorities were wrong to give clearance for take off.Really is mind boggling.

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    Mute Alan Vallely
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:34 PM

    How does a pilot open the doors to a man who leaps out of a gangway and runs towards the plane with two bags….

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    Mute Lazlo Saint Pierre
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:44 PM

    “Man catches flight after dashing across runway at Madrid airport” – Wow, must have been real windy.

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    Mute Jimmy Murphy
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:30 PM

    Can’t believe anyone would go to that much effort for Ryanair

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    Mute hugh sure
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:11 PM

    He did it so he wouldn’t lose his money for missed flight, and have to pay again at an exorbitant price

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    Mute Ryan Hardy
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    Aug 9th 2016, 9:48 PM

    And now he’ll get fined, great logic

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    Mute Raymond Power
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    Aug 9th 2016, 9:26 PM

    They opened the door for him???? AND did he us a rope ladder to climb up or?

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    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
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    Aug 9th 2016, 9:39 PM

    737-800 has integrated electrically deployed steps fore & aft.

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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Aug 9th 2016, 10:46 PM

    Get lost,get lost!

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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Aug 9th 2016, 11:37 PM

    They only have them forward on the aircraft on the Port side,Mobile stairs are used for the aft door. As for the lad who climbed down of the airbridge he could have used the stairs,Which are normally to the right as you board the flight.

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    Mute Gavin
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:19 PM

    Was it just me expecting to see him “catch flight” once he got too close to the engine?

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    Mute Qwerty
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:36 PM

    He was trying to get away before water charges kicked in.

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    Mute Del Haven
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    Aug 9th 2016, 7:43 PM

    Brilliant comment! I love the way you sneaked the current uisce woes in Ireland to this story of a Bolivian trying to catch a flight.

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    Mute Boganity
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:12 PM

    Irish Godwin’s law right there

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    Mute Alan Kelly's Ego
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:30 PM

    That water charge comment is getting worse every time you use it qwert

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    Mute Robert O'Rourke
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    Aug 9th 2016, 10:08 PM

    He’s lucky the engines weren’t running or he’d have painted Barajas red.

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    Mute Eamonn Hedderman
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    Aug 9th 2016, 10:54 PM

    He must have had the gift of the gab to get on that plane

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    Mute David Ryan
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    Aug 9th 2016, 8:00 PM

    Check his arse!!

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    Mute Brookville House
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    Aug 26th 2016, 12:23 PM

    Maybe his name is James Bond and he got on board up through the undercarriage!

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    Mute Peter McMahon
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    Aug 10th 2016, 6:47 PM

    No way he got on the plane!

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Aug 9th 2016, 9:08 PM

    What’s a firm alarm?

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