EastEnders star Tracy-Ann Oberman has revealed she was unable to board a flight to Spain after an EU passport rule left her grounded, despite her passport showing an expiry date in 2027.

Celebrity airport shock over passport issue

Former EastEnders actor Tracy-Ann Oberman says Ryanair airline staff refused to let her travel after deciding her passport did not meet European Union entry requirements, even though it appeared to have almost two years left before it expired.

Sharing her experience on social media, Oberman explained she had assumed her passport remained valid because of the printed expiry date. Checks before boarding revealed that its issue date, rather than the expiry date alone, meant it no longer qualified for travel to Spain under current EU rules.

Oberman’s experience shows how a passport can appear valid while failing to meet the entry requirements for many European destinations.

Why the 10-year passport rule catches travellers out

Current regulations require most UK passports used for travel to countries in the Schengen Area to have been issued less than 10 years before the date of arrival. Passports must also have at least three months’ validity remaining beyond the planned departure date.

Confusion often stems from older British passports that included extra months carried over from a previous document. Although those months still appear in the printed expiry date, they are not counted when calculating the passport’s age for entry into most EU countries.

Oberman’s experience is not an isolated case. Earlier this summer, a British mother was unable to board a flight to Greece after checks found her passport fell outside the EU’s validity rules despite its printed expiry date appearing to be valid. Both incidents show how confusion often centres on a passport’s issue date rather than the expiry date.

Check your passport before you fly

Holidaymakers travelling to Spain, France, Italy, Portugal or Greece should check both the passport’s issue date and expiry date well before leaving for the airport.

Taking a few minutes to confirm that a passport meets the EU’s entry requirements could help avoid expensive disruption, missed flights and the disappointment of seeing a long-planned holiday come to an unexpected end.

Ryanair flight FR1879 from Thessaloniki/Salonika in Greece to Memmingen in southern Germany turned into a scene of pure terror on Friday morning after part of the engine broke off and smashed straight through a cabin window.

Minutes into the journey the Boeing 737-8AS shook with a loud bang that sent shockwaves through the whole aircraft.

A 61-year-old man from Serbia who was sitting beside the shattered window got dragged halfway out into the freezing air by the explosive decompression. His wife and fellow passengers next to him fought to hold him back and stop him disappearing into the sky for good. Screams filled the cabin as oxygen masks dropped down from above while people grabbed at them in fear.

Pilots kept a steady head, spoke calmly to the crew and turned the plane straight back towards Thessaloniki Macedonia Airport in Greece.

Problem first seen while flying over North Macedonia

The crew spotted the engine issue while the plane passed over North Macedonia and realised they could not sort it out while still in the air. They called in an emergency and set course for the airport they had just left behind.

BREAKING: Ryanair passenger reportedly saved from being sucked out the cabin after window fails during a flight from Thessaloniki to Memmingen.

According to local media Ryanair flight FR1879, a Boeing 737-8AS, returned safely to Greece on Friday after part of a damaged engine… pic.twitter.com/YPgRodjPFp

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 10, 2026

Ground teams got the message and were preparing for a possible rough landing with all emergency services on full alert. Firefighters, police and ambulances lined up ready in case anything went wrong on the return.

Plane touches down safely

Ground staff watched the safe touchdown before moving the aircraft to a special area away from the main terminal. Checks on the damage showed the engine had taken a real battering while the fuselage itself stayed intact with no big cracks or holes, except in the one window.

Injured passenger heads straight to hospital

A 61-year-old Serbian man reached AHEPA University General Hospital back in Thessaloniki, still in shock but awake, lucid and talking. Medics found friction burns across his body from the powerful pull of the air outside. He now faces a CT scan to rule out fractures or any deeper harm.

NEW: Ryanair passenger, 61, nearly sucked out of Greece–Germany flight after damaged engine debris shatters cabin window; suffers friction burns pic.twitter.com/L8cpxF1Ad9

— Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) July 10, 2026

Another passenger asked for help on the ground and received treatment at the airport itself. Four travellers in all went for hospital checks just to be safe, with most getting the all clear and heading back to the airport for a replacement flight, while one stayed on for more tests.

Mimi, who was on the flight, said on X, “Thankfully we’re all (almost) at least physically ok and heading to Munich as we speak. The person near the window had a strong hit and is in the hospital right now. No more news at the moment.”

Replacement plane whisks passengers to their destination

Ryanair moved fast and brought in a second aircraft so everyone could still make it to Memmingen with as little delay as possible. The replacement flight took off from Thessaloniki at around 9.50am local time, carrying the original group minus those getting medical attention.

Aviation watchdogs launch probe into engine failure

Experts have started digging into what caused the engine part to come loose and strike the window so hard.

Ryanair said in a statement that the window was smashed during the flight, but the plane landed normally and all passengers returned to the terminal without further incident. Company bosses stressed they brought in the replacement flight quickly to keep disruption to a minimum for those on board.

Union officials later said the incident came close to a full tragedy as the passenger’s body ended up out in the rushing air until his wife and others dragged him back inside.

Remember to keep your seatbelt fastened at all times!

What started as a routine inspection at a Granada Kebab shop uncovered far more than anyone ever expected. Inspectors reportedly found insects, food products without proper labels and identification and serious hygiene problems before discovering an alleged cannabis plantation and other drugs inside the premises, leading to its immediate closure.

The discovery turned a normal check up into the centre of a police investigation, with officers finding problems linked to food safety alongside an alleged drug operation inside the same building. The fast-food outlet was closed after inspectors uncovered a series of issues that raised serious questions about the conditions inside the premises and what was taking place away from the public area.

Inspectors find serious hygiene problems inside premises

During the inspection, officers discovered insects inside the premises, along with food products that did not have the required labelling. Inspectors also found meat and sauces that were not correctly identified, meaning there was no clear information showing where the products came from or how they had been stored. Food traceability is important because it allows businesses and inspectors to identify ingredients, check their origin and ensure they have been handled correctly.

The inspection also found problems with refrigeration equipment, accumulated grease and poor maintenance conditions inside the premises. These issues meant inspectors could not confirm that food was being stored and prepared under the standards expected from a business serving customers. The discovery of these conditions inside a food outlet has raised questions about what customers cannot see when they walk into a premises.

Hidden cannabis plantation discovered inside building

The investigation reportedly uncovered another discovery inside the building when officers found an indoor cannabis plantation. A total of 88 cannabis plants were reportedly found in the cultivation area, alongside equipment used to grow cannabis indoors. Investigators also reportedly found that the cultivation area was connected to an illegal electricity supply, which is now part of the investigation. The discovery changed the nature of the inspection, with officers moving from food safety concerns to investigating suspected drug-related offences. A restaurant that appeared to operate as a normal fast-food shop was allegedly being used for cannabis cultivation in areas where customers closely waited for their take-away.

Cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine among substances found

The discovery reportedly went further, with police finding other suspected drugs inside the premises. Officers reportedly seized more than 80 grams of cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine, along with precision scales and around €7,000 in cash. The combination of several different substances, scales and cash led police to investigate whether the premises was being used for drug-related activity. The owner was reportedly detained on suspicion of offences linked to public health and electricity fraud. The investigation remains open as officers continue looking into the alleged activity taking place inside the premises.

Local concerns after unusual discovery

The case has attracted attention from neighbours because of the number of different issues found during the same inspection that went by completely unnoticed by customers. A fast-food restaurant is expected to provide customers with food prepared in safe and hygienic conditions, making the discovery of insects, unlabelled products and alleged drug activity particularly serious. For people living nearby, the findings have raised questions about how long the alleged activity may have been taking place and what was happening inside the building.

Premises sealed after inspection

Following the discovery, the kebab shop has been closed and sealed while officers continued examining the findings. The business cannot reopen while the investigation continues and the reported breaches are reviewed.

The alleged illegal electricity connection linked to the cannabis plantation is also being investigated alongside the food safety issues and suspected drug offences. Police are continuing to gather information about the operation and whether anyone else may have been involved.

A discovery nobody expected

For anyone walking past the kebab shop, it may have appeared to be an ordinary place to stop for a quick meal. However, the inspection uncovered a very different situation inside. Finding insects, unlabelled meat and poor hygiene conditions would already have been a serious discovery, but officers then reportedly uncovered an indoor cannabis plantation, other drugs, cash and equipment linked to the alleged operation. 

The case has turned a routine inspection into a much larger investigation involving food safety breaches and suspected criminal activity. The premises remains closed while police continue their enquiries into what was found inside the Granada fast-food outlet.