40+ Ryanair Passengers Denied Boarding in Budapest While Aircraft Waited

December 16, 2025 at 07:23 PM•2 min read

Ryanair denied boarding to over 40 passengers on a flight from Budapest to Tirana following significant delays at passport control.

Key Points

1Over 40 passengers were denied boarding for Ryanair flight FR6887 from Budapest to Tirana following extensive delays at non-Schengen passport control.
2Passengers claimed the aircraft remained at the gate for more than 30 minutes while the airline unloaded the checked luggage belonging to the denied travelers.
3Budapest Airport apologized for the congestion but noted that not all airlines waited for delayed passengers, while Ryanair maintained that passengers failed to present themselves before the gate closed.

A viral video captured the chaotic scene at Budapest Airport (BUD) as more than 40 Ryanair passengers were denied boarding for flight FR6887 destined for Tirana (TIA), despite claims that the aircraft remained on the tarmac waiting for baggage unloading. The incident, which occurred on December 15, stemmed from severe congestion at the non-Schengen passport control area, leading numerous travelers to arrive at Gate B26 after the boarding deadline.

The disgruntled passenger who posted the footage alleged that the gate was closed and boarding refused while the plane was still present, forcing the airline to spend over 30 minutes unloading the checked baggage of the denied travelers before departure. The passenger claimed they queued for an hour at passport control due to slow handling and that no final boarding call was made for the scheduled 14:20 flight.

Budapest Airport acknowledged the high volume of simultaneous non-Schengen departures caused congestion at passport control and apologized for the inconvenience. The airport stated that while they and the Airport Police Directorate attempted to expedite controls, "unfortunately, not all airlines waited for their passengers."

Ryanair defended its operational decision, attributing the missed flight to the passport control delays. The carrier stated that passengers who presented themselves at the boarding gate desk before it closed would have boarded alongside the 137 passengers who made the flight on time, implying that the denied passengers failed to meet the required gate closure time.