DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ryanair has fired one of its senior pilots and is preparing legal action

against him for questioning the airline's safety record in a television interview, the company said
on Thursday.
Europe's largest budget carrier by passengers, Ryanair has in recent weeks rejected accusations
from pilots that it encourages crew to carry less back-up fuel and that disciplinary threats
discourage the reporting of safety concerns.
Ryanair said it had fired veteran pilot John Goss for his "defamatory contributions" in a
documentary about the airline's safety culture broadcast this week.
In the program, Goss said he received a critical letter for using too much fuel and said many
Ryanair pilots did not have confidence in the safety reporting systems of the Irish Aviation
Authority (IAA).
The IAA said all confidential reports are fully investigated and its oversight of Ryanair was
comprehensive.
Ryanair says it has two confidential reporting systems in place.
"We will not allow a Ryanair employee to defame our safety on national television just three
weeks after he confirmed in writing to Ryanair that he had no concerns with safety," Ryanair
said.
Ryanair, which the IAA says has a safety record that is on a par with the safest airlines in
Europe, said it had instructed its lawyers to issue legal proceedings against Goss.
Goss does not plan to make any public comment on his dismissal until he receives further legal
advice, said a spokesman for the Ryanair Pilot Group, which is advising him.
Goss has been involved in legal disputes with Ryanair management in the past over issues
related to union representation for pilots.