Outspoken Ryanair chief claims 'useless' seat belts on planes won't save lives and calls for standing room only on flights
- Michael O'Leary says belts are useless in a crash and should be scrapped
- He wants to introduce cheap standing areas on planes
- Calls planes 'buses with wings'
Seat belts on aeroplanes are pointless and will not save passengers in a crash, the chief executive of Ryanair has claimed.
Michael O'Leary claims legislation forcing passengers to wear seat belts is unnecessary and wants to introduce 'standing room only' sections on flights.
'Seat belts don't matter,' O'Leary said.
Outspoken: Michael O'Leary says seatbelts on planes are 'useless' and aviation authorities are using outdated thinking
'You don't need a seatbelt on the London Underground. You don't need a seatbelt on trains which are travelling at 120mph and if they crash you're all dead,' he added.
He told the Telegraph that the argument that seatbelts can stop injuries during turbulence doesn't apply as Europe doesn't have areas of excessive turbulence.
Share this article
According to the newspaper, O'Leary's remarks came as he attempts to make low-cost 'standing room only' cabins a reality. He says he is being obstructed by aviation authorities, who he branded 'plonkers'.
He has suggested removing the back ten rows of seats in aircraft, allowing groups of less discerning travellers to commute to their destination on their feet for as little as £1.
He added: 'The problem with aviation is that for 50 years it's been populated by people who think it's a wondrous sexual experience... when it's really just a bus with wings.'
'Useless': Mr O'Leary wants to introduce 'standing only' zones on planes but says safety legislation is holding him back
Most watched News videos
- 'Declaration of war': Israeli President calls out Iran but wants peace
- Disco Queen! Lauren Sánchez shows off cute Coachella fit
- Incredible drone footage of Charmouth Beach following the rockfall
- 'Tornado' leaves trail destruction knocking over stationary caravan
- Wind and rain batter the UK as Met Office issues yellow warning
- Crowd chants 'bring him out' outside church where stabber being held
- Knife-wielding man is seen chasing civilians inside Bondi Westfield
- Shocking moment shoplifter assaults Tesco worker after she's caught
- Incredible drone footage of Charmouth Beach following the rockfall
- Israeli Iron Dome intercepts Iranian rockets over Jerusalem
- Man fires shots at carjacker before being fatally run down
- Proof of Worcestershire panther? Motorist spots 'big cat' in a field
