In a statement issued on Friday, the airline said it became aware of the incident late on 20 October and reported the video to Essex Police the following morning, together with the details of the passengers involved, and had written to Mrs Gayle the same morning. It said the company's Spanish cabin crew were aware of an argument between two passengers but were not aware of the racist comments until they were shown the video after the flight landed in London. The crew had followed company procedure to defuse an argument, which was to separate the passengers by offering to move one to alternative seating. Ryanair said Mrs Gayle was moved at her request, to a seat next to her daughter, and both passengers involved in the altercation confirmed they were "OK". The airline said it had written, both by email and letter, to Mrs Gayle to apologise. In the statement, Robin Kiely from Ryanair again apologised for the "regrettable, and unacceptable remarks" made to Mrs Gayle.