David Newton and his family arrived three hours before their flight but ended up stranded for a total of 11 hours in departures. They spent over five hours waiting in queues for EES checks, which require passengers to provide fingerprints and a facial photo.

Since its full launch on April 10, 2026, the EES has faced criticism for its efficiency. David described the chaos as ‘mayhem,’ with thousands of passengers queuing at border control. Only about a third of the 15 booths were manned during peak times, exacerbating the delays.

Technical issues have also plagued EES kiosks at major hubs in France—currently, around 25 kiosks are not operational. This has led several European countries to temporarily suspend biometric checks due to long queues.

A notable example occurred when Greece halted biometrics for British nationals amid rising wait times. ACI Europe warned that travelers could face delays of up to three hours during busy periods.

The manual processing of passengers takes approximately five minutes per person, significantly slowing down border processing times. David recounted seeing distressed travelers pleading about missing their flights: ‘There were people coming up crying, saying, ‘Excuse me, I’m going to miss my flight.’’

The European Commission maintains that the EES system functions well in most member states since its rollout. However, officials have not clarified how long the current technical issues will persist or how long suspensions in various countries will last.

This incident highlights ongoing challenges within the EU’s border processing system and raises questions about its readiness for peak travel seasons.

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The toy in question was a “Let’s Dig Out Dinosaur Eggs” kit, which contained a sand-like material described as “dinosaur sand.” Initially, Smyths Toys reassured the boy’s mother, Charli Aitken, that the material was made from plaster of Paris and was “not considered dangerous.” However, this assurance was later contradicted by a recall notice that stated the product presented a health risk due to potential asbestos contamination.

The recall affects seven different toy products sold by Smyths. The European Commission and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) in the UK are currently reviewing these sand toy products to assess the extent of the contamination risk.

Charli Aitken expressed frustration, noting that she raised her concerns 16 times before receiving a response from Smyths Toys. Alarmingly, the company did not contact her directly after they became aware that her son had ingested the material.

According to Smyths Toys, “The European Commission & OPSS are undertaking a review of these (sand toy) products.” The recall has sparked broader questions about how quickly risk information reaches families when children are involved.

The product recall highlights the importance of rigorous safety checks in children’s toys, especially those containing materials that could pose health risks. The exact number of families affected by this recall remains unclear, and details remain unconfirmed as investigations continue.

As the situation develops, parents are urged to check their children’s toys for the affected products and report any concerns to Smyths Toys or relevant authorities.

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Previously, Ryanair had specific guidelines for expectant mothers, allowing travel up to 28 weeks of pregnancy without a ‘fit to fly’ letter. However, as of March 9, 2026, certain passengers traveling with Ryanair and Jet2 will now require additional documentation to board their flights.

Ryanair permits travel until the end of the 36th week of pregnancy for single pregnancies, while for twin or triplet pregnancies, travel is restricted to the end of the 32nd week. A ‘fit to fly’ letter is mandatory for expectant mothers traveling beyond these limits.

Immediate Effects of Policy Changes

The decisive moment for these changes came with the increasing scrutiny of airline policies regarding pregnant passengers. Ryanair’s updated guidelines now closely mirror those of Jet2, which does not carry expectant mothers after the end of the 35th week of pregnancy for single pregnancies and requires a doctor’s certificate confirming the stage of pregnancy after the end of the 27th week.

Jet2’s policy stipulates that the doctor’s certificate must be dated within 7 days of the outbound flight and 16 days of the inbound flight. This alignment in policies may lead to increased clarity for passengers but also raises concerns about accessibility for expectant mothers.

Expert Perspectives

Experts emphasize the importance of clear communication from airlines regarding travel restrictions for pregnant passengers. Ryanair advises, “If you have any doubts about your suitability to fly or if you have had any complications while pregnant, please consult your doctor before booking your flights.”

Similarly, Jet2 states, “We are not able to carry expectant mothers after: the end of the 35th week of pregnancy in the case of a single pregnancy; or – the end of the 33rd week of pregnancy in the case of multiple pregnancies.” EasyJet also allows travel until the end of the 35th week for single pregnancies and the end of the 32nd week for multiple pregnancies.

As these policies evolve, the implications for expectant mothers traveling with these airlines become increasingly significant, particularly in light of the recent challenges posed by Ryanair and Ryanair Sun against the European Commission’s approval of German state aid for Condor.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding how these changes will be implemented across all flights and the potential impact on future travel regulations for pregnant passengers.

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