Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary has revealed engineers inspecting a new Boeing aircraft delivery found dropped spanners in the planes’ fuselages, writes Sarah Salter.

Mr O’Leary, who has led one of one of the world’s safest airlines for 30 years, had been bowled over with the timelines the manufacturer produced with its airframes – but that all seems to have recently changed.

Ryanair and Boeing have a long-standing relationship, with Ryanair exclusively operating Boeing 737s.

However, the budget carrier has recently expressed concerns about potential tariffs on Boeing aircraft and has threatened to reassess its orders if these impact the price.

It has mentioned considering aircraft from other manufacturers, including COMAC, as a potential alternative to Boeing.

Mr O’Leary told The Times: “We had planes being delivered and when we get them back to Dublin we find spanners and tools under the floorboards.

“What the factory in Seattle needs is someone overseeing the production line.

“At the moment it’s just salesmen.”

To deal with the issue, 30 inspection engineers are now employed by the airline in two locations in the US: Seattle and Wichita.

Once a new aircraft then arrives in Dublin, Irish-based engineers carry out their own 48-hour check.

Mr O’Leary said: “Only once we are completely happy does it go into operation.”

Several air incidents turned a spotlight on alleged cost-cutting and mismanagement at Boeing, something the company’s new chief, Robert ‘Kelly’ Ortberg, said would end.

The latest Boeing crash was an Air India flight to London last week.

Boeing and Ryanair were approached for comment.