Police probing racial abuse incident on Ryanair flight

UK detectives are investigating an allegedly racially aggravated incident after a man was filmed verbally abusing an elderly woman on a Ryanair flight.

Footage posted on social media appeared to show plane passenger David Mesher calling Delsie Gayle an "ugly black bastard" and telling her: "Don't speak to me in a foreign language, you stupid ugly cow."

The incident is believed to have taken place on Ryanair flight FR015 at Barcelona Airport on October 19, before it left for London Stansted.

Essex Police said on Wednesday: "Essex Police was contacted on Sunday October 21, about a racially aggravated incident happening on a Ryanair plane while on the tarmac at Barcelona Airport.

"This incident took place on Friday October 19, a video of which has been widely circulated on social media and covered by media both here and abroad.

"Since the report was made to us our officers have identified both parties involved and are progressing a number of inquiries.

"There are agreed national protocols to follow when incidents are reported to have happened in another country. As such, we will be conducting an investigation to submit to the Spanish authorities in due course."

The Press Association understands Spanish police are not investigating, as when an incident happens on a plane, it is investigated by authorities at the flight's destination.

Mr Mesher, who lives in a sheltered retirement housing block in a leafy area of Yardley Wood, Birmingham, has declined to comment to reporters outside his home.

Only a small number of residents left or entered the building, which is run by housing provider Optivo, on Wednesday morning.

A spokeswoman for Optivo said: "We do not condone abusive behaviour in any form.

"As this matter is now being handled by the police we are unable to make any further comment at this stage."

Ms Gayle said she felt "very low" about the incident and it had discouraged her from flying with the low-cost airline in future.

She told ITV News: "I feel really depressed about it. I go to bed and say, 'What have I done?'.

"I haven't done anything to attack him, it's because of the colour of my skin I was abused like that."