Case of Aer Lingus pilot sacked over alleged ‘toxic fumes’ campaign becomes longest WRC hearing

The case of an Aer Lingus pilot sacked over a social media campaign on alleged “toxic fumes” on airliners has now become the longest-running employment rights case since public hearings began at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

The pilot, veteran Airbus A320 captain Tom O’Riordan, is pursuing complaints of whistleblower penalisation, unfair dismissal and non-payment of wages against Aer Lingus Ltd at the WRC, following his dismissal in 2024.

O’Riordan has told the tribunal the airline “knowingly” directed him to operate what he argues was an unsafe Airbus A320, EI-DEN, on an empty ferry flight from Heathrow to Dublin on June 5th, 2023, and that he suffered a brain injury as a result.

He was sacked after the company decided he had committed “serious gross misconduct” by taking to social media with what he called a “campaign of awareness” about alleged “toxic fumes”.