
The Sun is reporting that Arabic graffiti was found daubed on panels covering fuel tanks of easyJet planes at French airports.
Lisa King, easyJet cabin safety manager, alerted company employees to the graffiti with an email informing them of the discovery of " four aircraft in France with written inscriptions on the inside of the fuel panel, and toilet door in Arabic script."
Julian Bray an Aviation expert commented: "This is not unusual, often locally employed airside workers in remote airports, will informally 'tag' aircraft, when refuelling or cleaning out the cabin. It's only when the 'tags' contain religious messages or possibly threats, then a major investigation gets underway.
"EasyJet will probably now require local ground teams to make extra checks, which of course adds to the aircrafts turnaround time. The airline confirms that in their view safety was not compromised but clearly the act of tagging is against the accepted rules and standards of professional behaviour the airline should expect to be observed in a restricted security area."
A spokeswoman for easyJet said the matter was not considered to be a threat and no passengers had to be removed from the aircraft.
She said: "EasyJet assessed this issue, each time working in full consultation with the authorities, and is entirely satisfied it is nothing more than graffiti.
"EasyJet takes very seriously any security related issue and would not operate a flight unless we are entirely satisfied it is completely safe to do so.
The graffiti was found less than two weeks after 130 people were killed in terror attacks in the country's capital.
Source: PA, The Sun, CNS,
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