Latvia? I thought Ryanair was flying us to Spain

Ryanair ordered an inquiry into how six holidaymakers were allowed to board the wrong flight

The airline said the family and two other passengers, who were booked on a flight to Spain but briefly boarded a service to Latvia, would be reimbursed for extra expenses incurred due to the blunder at East Midlands Airport.

Painter and decorator Stephen Pritchard, from Cannock, Staffordshire, said his boarding pass was checked three times as he was ushered on to the wrong plane with his son.

Describing the incident as a massive security risk, he said: “This comes at a time when they are supposed to be tightening security. It’s unbelievable.”

Mr Pritchard had been due to travel to Almeria at 6.30am yesterday on the same flight as Jo Housley, from Rotherham, and her three children.

Although the two families, who did not know each other, were taken off the wrong plane before it departed, they were unable to board their intended flight at an adjacent gate.

Ryanair said the passengers had been accommodated on an alternative flight to Spain via Birmingham Airport.

The airline said in a statement: “While it is the responsibility of each customer to ensure they board the correct aircraft, we have asked our handling agent at East Midlands to investigate this incident and ensure it does not recur.

“We sincerely apologise to the customers in question, who have been transferred on to the next available flight free of charge, provided with refreshment vouchers and advised to keep receipted expenses for reimbursement of additional transport costs.”