A Ryanair passenger who was caught smoking in one of the cabin toilets was escorted off the plane when it touched down in Manchester.

A fellow passenger said the man started smoking 20 minutes into the flight, from Palma, last week.

The passenger said: “One of the flight attendants could smell smoke coming from the toilet. They took all his details and then announced it to the whole plane.

“I was really pleased they’d named and shamed the person. If you’re willing to have a smoke and put 180 souls at risk, then you should be named and shamed.”

He added: “There were a few people not happy on that plane, I’ll tell you. I was with my two daughters who are seven and 10. They were pretty frightened.”

A Ryanair spokesperson told Manchester Evening News: “The crew of this flight from Palma to Manchester (30 May) called ahead for police assistance after a passenger was found smoking on board.

“The passenger was removed from the aircraft by local police upon landing at Manchester Airport.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman told MailOnline the passenger was not arrested ‘as Ryanair did not want to pursue a prosecution’.