A British tourist was deported from Morocco after Ryanair staff refused to let her retrieve her passport, which she had left on her seat after disembarking. Rebecca McCurry, 22, from Lochgilphead in Scotland, had just arrived in Marrakesh with three friends in July when she realised her mistake within minutes.
Despite her request to go back on board, Ryanair staff told her they had swept the plane and found nothing. However, the airline later admitted the passenger had misplaced the passport on board. Ms McCurry insisted it was impossible that a proper search was conducted, as the passport was later found exactly where she left it on the return flight.
Ms McCurry, who suffers from chronic pain, said she passed out multiple times during an interrogation by border police, who she described as intimidating and who laughed at her. She was told she might have to wait five days for a deportation flight to Edinburgh, even though the plane she arrived on was still on the runway.
After three hours of questioning, she was left in a fast food restaurant before being deported to Manchester Airport, where her father drove six hours to collect her. It took another month to get her passport back.
Ms McCurry shared her story as a warning to other travellers to keep hold of their passports, as they may not be allowed back on the plane. A Ryanair spokesperson said the passenger was denied entry into Marrakesh and was reaccommodated on the next available flight to the UK.
