
Airport services provider Swissport International has apologized for forgetting to remove a coffin containing the body of an Irish national from a plane at Dublin Airport.
The plane returned to Greece with the man's remains on board, forcing the distraught family to reschedule the funeral.
" We are very sorry for the family's experience at such a difficult time and did everything we could to ensure things were resolved as quickly as possible," Swissport said in a statement to the Irish Independent on Sunday.
The company said an internal investigation had been launched and promised to 'ensure lessons are learned'.
According to the 'Irish Independent', the incident took place on May 22 with the body of a man who had died abroad.
His remains were delivered on an Aegean Airlines flight from Greece to Dublin, where his family were waiting in a hearse outside the airport. However, the coffin was not removed from the plane due to a 'wrong load' and was later returned to Greece.
Although the body was delivered to Ireland by another airline the following day, the family were left 'devastated' by the incident, the publication said.