01/03/2010, Casino

A Ryanair passenger flying from Krakow, in Poland, to East Midlands Airport, won $10,000 on scratch cards, during his flight.
After confirming the validity of the scratch card, the cabin crew on the flight told him to collect the jackpot directly from the company which runs the competition.

The man became frustrated and ate his ticket in front of his fellow passengers, because the cabin crew told him they didn't have enough money on the board of the plane to pay him immediately.
Stephen McNamara, the Ryanair spokesman said that, although the cabin crew urged the man not to eat his winning ticket, the man ate it anyway as a sign of protest.

“In the last two years Ryanair's scratch cards have given away 10 cars, more than €300,000 in cash prizes and more than 100,000 flight vouchers,” said Stephen McNamara.
“Crew tried to stop the air Gourmet Scratch Card eater by offering him one of our great tasting sandwiches, pizzas or snacks instead, but clearly he had much more expensive tastes!” McNamara added.

Since the man will no longer be able to claim for his prize, the money will be donated to charity.
The Ryanair company is now asking their passengers to vote online and to decide where the money should go.

Since the company refused to reveal the identity of the passenger, I wonder if the story was true. This could be Ryanair's last strategy to get free publicity, as they are notorious for doing anything and everything in order to draw the press attention.