A WOMAN has raised concerns over security at Bournemouth Airport after a passenger was able to board a plane on the wrong day.

Janice Smith, 62, from Tuckton, was booked to fly with Ryanair on the 4.30pm flight from Bournemouth to Girona in Spain on Saturday, September 8.

Mrs Smith, who makes the journey with Ryanair to Spain at least once a month, had pre-booked her seat 1A and was the first to board the plane.

After being shown to her seat by one of the flight attendants, who put her case in an overhead locker, Mrs Smith took her seat.

A few minutes later, a gentleman boarded the plane who said Mrs Smith was sitting in his seat.

Mrs Smith said: “I knew I was in the right place but he made a very loud fuss, waving his boarding card around showing seat 01A.

“The steward asked me for my boarding pass which was in the overhead locker. I got up to get it, leaving my kindle and water bottle in the seat. This gentleman moved my things on to the adjacent seat and sat down leaving me open mouthed with amazement.”

She then showed her boarding pass to a crew member who then went to talk to the flight deck before ground staff boarded the plane.

It then transpired, that the gentleman had booked seat 1A but for the flight on October 6.

It is not known how the confusion occurred.

After the gentlemen left the plane, staff had to check he had not left any luggage behind on board.

Mrs Smith said: “This gentleman had gone through two ground checks prior to boarding the plane, neither picked up he wasn’t booked on the flight.”

She added: “It shouldn’t have happened and if he can get through it makes you wonder who else can get through security.”

Once in Spain, Mrs Smith contacted Bournemouth Airport who apologised for embarrassment caused by the incident and advised she take the matter up with aviation services company Swissport who were directly contracted by Ryanair.

Ryanair told the Daily Echo: “We have asked our gate agent at Bournemouth Airport (Swissport) to look into this matter and ensure it does not recur.”

The Daily Echo contacted Swissport for a comment but one had not been provided at the time of publication.