Ryanair pilots with 'bright futures' killed near John Lennon Airport in horror crash

The collision claimed the lives of Captain Matthew Greenhalgh, 28, and Senior First Officer Jamie Fernandes, 24, who were travelling to the Merseyside airport when Burns's 44-tonne Scania HGV struck their vehicle on the M62.

Judge Simon Medland KC handed down the sentence, noting Burns had demonstrated "a lack of attention for a substantial period of time" before the devastating crash in July 2024.

The fatal incident occurred at approximately 5.31am on Thursday, July 11, 2024, on the westbound carriageway between junctions eight and seven near Warrington.

Prosecutor Damian Nolan told the court the two pilots had been asleep in the rear of the Toyota taxi, being driven back from Luton Airport by Rashid Mehmood, when conditions on the motorway deteriorated dramatically.

Heavy rainfall had created treacherous driving conditions, with matrix signs reducing the advisory speed limit first to 50mph and then to 40mph due to queuing traffic caused by an earlier incident.

CCTV evidence revealed Burns approached the stationary vehicles at 56mph, some 16mph above the advisory limit, and applied his brakes merely one second before his HGV slammed into the back of the taxi.

The taxi, which had come to a halt behind another lorry at the back of the traffic queue, was crushed between the two heavy goods vehicles with devastating force.

Mr Mehmood's Toyota sustained catastrophic damage on all sides and was rotated 180 degrees, left facing the wrong direction on the carriageway.

Remarkably, the taxi driver survived the collision, although officers initially struggled to locate him amid the wreckage until they spotted his hand emerging from the debris.

A police officer at the scene "heard a voice shouting for help" before discovering Mr Mehmood conscious and breathing despite his injuries, which included a fractured shoulder, multiple broken ribs, and ongoing spinal problems.

Both pilots suffered traumatic head injuries and multiple other wounds the court heard were "not survivable". They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Burns's defence counsel, Michael Hayton KC, told the court that his client had been "effectively on autopilot" and had "switched off" for up to 20 seconds before the collision.

"He went out that day to do his job. He has been a professional driver for more than 30 years," Mr Hayton said, adding: "He has never had an accident, either as a personal driver or in his professional capacity. He is, on any other day, a safe driver."

The barrister emphasised that Burns harboured "very clear remorse and regret" for the profound impact of his actions on the victims' families.

"He would do anything to go back in time," Mr Hayton added, noting that his client had suffered a major depressive episode since the incident.

Judge Medland acknowledged Burns had not set out to cause harm that day and had decades of experience as a commercial driver without incident.

However, the judge emphasised the weather conditions were "appalling" with torrential rain creating substantial surface water and spray, making the defendant's speed "highly inappropriate for the prevailing weather conditions".

"You were driving at 56mph in a 40mph advisory in torrential rain, with heavy road water and spray," the judge stated.

While noting several "persuasive and valuable character references" submitted on Burns's behalf, Judge Medland said the word "grief" could not adequately capture the families' suffering.

Burns will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before becoming eligible for release and faces a six-year driving disqualification upon his release, after which he must pass an extended retest.

The families of both pilots paid heartfelt tributes following the tragedy, describing two young men whose lives had been cut short just as their careers were flourishing.

Mr Greenhalgh's relatives said he "had a passion for life and seized every opportunity that came his way", having discovered his ambition to fly as a teenager after receiving a flying lesson as a gift from his aunt.

He had married his wife Hannah in Las Vegas just three months before his death.

Mr Fernandes's family described how their son "was living his best life" and had fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a pilot.

In honour of both men, Ryanair announced it would install a commemorative plaque at its East Midlands Training Centre and establish an annual memorial award for the top-performing cadet.

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