Ryanair flight mishap leaves traveler stranded in wrong country
- Xavier de Vally and his friend were diverted to Copenhagen instead of Gothenburg on August 8 due to air traffic control staff shortages.
- They faced challenges finding accommodation after arriving late and eventually traveled to Gothenburg the following day.
- Xavier submitted a claim for nearly £400 in expenses but experienced delays in processing from Ryanair.
On August 8, Xavier de Vally and his friend James flew from Manchester Airport to Gothenburg, Sweden, for a gig. However, as they approached landing, the flight was diverted to Copenhagen due to air traffic control staff shortages and maintenance issues at Gothenburg Airport. This unexpected change left Xavier, who was recovering from surgery and wearing an ankle brace, without the assistance he had arranged for upon arrival. After clearing passport control late at night, they struggled to find accommodation and eventually managed to travel to Gothenburg the following day. Upon returning home, Xavier submitted a claim for nearly £400 in expenses incurred due to the diversion. He expressed frustration over the lengthy process of obtaining a refund from Ryanair, having engaged in multiple webchats without clear answers. Ryanair acknowledged the situation, explaining that the flight's delay and diversion were beyond their control and that they were working to process valid expense claims as quickly as possible, although some claims were experiencing delays.