Ryanair flight departs France for Marrakech without passengers after staff shortages

A Ryanair flight departed from Vatry Airport on April 14 without any passengers on board after security staff called in sick, leaving 192 travelers unable to board a scheduled flight to Marrakech.

Passengers were prevented from reaching the boarding gate due to a lack of personnel to carry out mandatory security checks, airport officials said.

The absent staff, employed by a private contractor, were on sick leave, creating an unexpected shortage. Check-in proceeded as scheduled, but no security team was available to screen passengers.

Airport director Fabrice Pauquet told local media that the situation was unforeseen and replacement staff could not be mobilized in time.

The aircraft departed on schedule for the roughly three-and-a-half-hour flight, despite having no passengers on board.

The disruption left all 192 ticketed passengers stranded at the airport. Several said they had not received compensation and were still seeking clarification days after the incident.

Responsibility for the situation remains unclear. Airport management said compensation does not fall under its responsibility and pointed to the airline. Ryanair, in turn, told passengers that compensation is not available for disruptions outside its control.

In response to complaints, the airline cited its policies, which exclude compensation in cases such as strikes, adverse weather or other exceptional circumstances beyond its control.

Some passengers dispute that explanation, arguing the incident does not qualify as a strike and should be treated differently.

The case could depend on how it is classified under European Union air passenger rights rules, which provide compensation in cases such as denied boarding, cancellations or significant delays.

However, eligibility typically requires passengers to have reached the boarding stage. At Vatry Airport, passengers had checked in but had not passed through security screening, meaning they were not formally present at the boarding gate — a key condition for compensation under the rules.