RYANAIR has sacked its most senior pilot after a string of junior female colleagues accused him of sexually harassing them.
The budget airline’s Chief Pilot, Aidan Murray, 58, was dismissed from his prestigious post “with immediate effect” on Tuesday evening after a three week probe into his conduct.
Ryanair today refused to address claims from multiple sources that tubby, balding Murray had pestered young female colleagues.
Murray was reported to have sent a string of disturbing WhatsApp messages to women aged 21 to 32 including one which read: “Nice ass.”
Messages and requests for pictures were sent over a lengthy period before an anonymous tip-off triggered a flood of eight complaints.
Details of the shock dismissal were laid bare in an internal memo from the airline’s Chief People Officer Darrell Hughes yesterday.
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Mr Hughes told staff action was taken over "repeated unacceptable inappropriate behaviour towards a number of female junior pilots, which was in breach of our anti-harassment policy."
He added: "We are determined that all of our people can come to work in a safe and secure environment.
“We would ask all of you to respect the privacy and integrity of those brave individuals who came forward to assist us in this investigation."
A senior Ryanair source added: “This was an obvious abuse of power by a person in one of the most powerful positions in the airline.
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“He was overfamiliar and Whatsapped very junior colleagues as young as 21.
“He requested images and used sexual innuendo in messages to eight women, made enquiries about their boyfriends and changed their rosters so they would be flying with them.
“The investigation took three weeks and followed an anonymous tip off.”
Pilot WhatsApp forums posted unconfirmed claims that allegations centred on Murray requesting sex acts with junior female pilots once flights were in the cruise.
But sources told The Sun there was no allegation relating to sexual acts during flights and the investigation focused on his messages.
Ryanair declined to provide details when quizzed about the allegations today, declaring only: “We do not comment on queries relating to individual employees.”
The senior airline source added: “No sexual acts came up in the investigation and there has been no police or Gardai investigation as yet.
"But Ryanair is understood to have told the women affected that if they wanted to pursue anything further with authorities they had the airline's full support."
A Dublin-based Irish Gardai source said there was currently no record of any complaints having been made relating to the alleged incidents.
The dismissal ends a glittering career which saw high-flying Murray become the most senior of the low-cost carrier’s 5,860 pilot staff.
His responsibilities extended to the management and supervision of all of Ryanair’s 3,000 daily flights as the airline’s so-called nominated person for flight operations.
Murray – a Ryanair employee since 1995 – was fired on Tuesday evening following a disciplinary hearing last week following his suspension from duty.
It is understood he has until next week to appeal against the decision to terminate his employment with the carrier.
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Ryanair is Europe’s biggest airline and had 5,860 pilots employed at the end of March last year, according to its most recent annual report.
It has continued to hire staff including pilots as it expands its fleet and network.
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