A family holiday has been ruined after Ryanair refused to let a teenager board a flight due to a minor tear in his passport. Jake Barton, 19, was due to fly from East Midlands Airport to Spain on 28 December with his parents to celebrate New Year's Eve in Benidorm.
According to his mother, Rachael Burton, the family had passed all initial checks but were turned away at the gate. She described the incident as 'heartbreaking' and said the family has been left over £1,000 out of pocket. Jake, who believes he damaged his passport on a night out, has not left his bedroom since returning home.
A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed that the passenger was 'correctly refused travel' because his passport was damaged and not valid for travel. The UK's HM Passport Office states that a damaged passport cannot be used as proof of identity, with damage including tears, cuts, and water damage.
Travel correspondent Simon Calder noted that passport damage is a common issue, especially for young adults who use ID to enter venues. He added that airlines often err on the side of caution to avoid fines for allowing passengers to fly with inadequate documentation.
