Two Ryanair pilots were killed in a car crash after finishing a 17-hour shift, it has emerged.
At around 5.30 am on July 11, Captain Matt Greenhalgh, 28, and Senior First Officer Jamie Fernandes, 24, died as a result of a pile-up with their taxi and two lorries on the M62.
The Ryanair employees flew from Liverpool to Palma the previous day, starting at 11.40 am before returning in the evening to fly an empty jet to Luton. They landed at 1.14 am.
The taxi was bringing them back to Liverpool airport.
In relation to the accident, a 61-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Now Union Unite has demanded answers from Ryanair, asking why the pilots were not offered a hotel stopover after their gruelling shift.
“It leaves a very bad taste that they were on the road in the early hours”, a source told The Sun. “Unite is worried cost cuts are making the working lives of staff dangerous.”
Cheshire Police gave a statement on the situation, saying: “Matt Greenhalgh, 28, and Jamie Fernandes, 24, who are Captain and Senior First Officer for Ryanair respectively, were travelling to Liverpool Airport in a taxi when the collision occurred at 5.31am. The car was in collision with two lorries on the westbound carriageway between junction 8 and junction 7.
“Sadly, Matt and Jamie died at the scene. Next of kin are being supported by specialist officers.”
The families of the victims paid tribute to their relatives, with Greenhalgh’s family saying they were “lost without him”.
Fernandes’s parents said he “made the most of every moment”.
Express.co.uk has contacted the airline for comment.
