Trainee Ryanair mechanic SACKED after failing to follow safety instructions and telling instructor ‘I know best’

However, a panel determined that his employers had no option but to dismiss him, as "safety was paramount" on the aircraft carrying nearly 300 passengers.

The tribunal, which took place in Glasgow, was informed that Dolan was enrolled in a 16-week trainee mechanic course in September 2023 with Prestwick Aircraft Management, responsible for maintaining Ryanair’s fleet at Prestwick Airport.

Only ten days into the course and before his first exam, Dolan informed his boss he had dyslexia.

He told the tribunal his “coping mechanisms” included reading aloud, speaking to himself as he carried out tasks, and using Google to look up information if it was taught “too quickly”.

The trainee was reported at the end of October 2023 for speaking over an instructor during a safety briefing.

The same week, lead trainer Andrew Hood asked him to write things in a notebook instead of saying them out loud. He also asked him to stop using his phone.

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The tribunal heard that the following week, former RAF mechanic Alan Sharp was running a practical hand tools tasks training course.

Dolan reportedly refused to carry out the task in the way instructed, claiming he “knew best”.

This incident was brought to Hood's attention, and three days later, the trainee was dismissed for not meeting the required standards.

Hood testified at the tribunal that Dolan was fired for refusing to follow aircraft procedures and the instructions of experienced trainers, as well as for speaking over instructors during the safety briefing.

In response, Dolan argued that his dismissal was discriminatory, claiming it was due to his coping mechanisms for dyslexia.

Employment Judge Jacqueline McCluskey concluded that maintaining the safety of the aircraft was of “critical importance” and required staff to follow instructions from senior supervisors.

She concluded that the trainee had demonstrated he was either “unwilling or unable” to follow the instructions, making dismissal the “only option”.

“The safety of other colleagues and peers in the workplace was a critical aspect of the role,” she said.