LOW FARES SUPREMOS Ryanair have been robbed of about $5 million (€4.6 million) from one of their bank accounts.

The money was taken from one of the airline’s accounts last week by electronic transfer via a Chinese bank.

It is not yet clear who perpetrated the fraud, which was discovered last Friday, but it is understood that the money in question has since been frozen.

Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has been directly involved in the investigation at Ryanair’s request.

“Ryanair confirms that it has investigated a fraudulent electronic transfer via a Chinese bank last week,” a spokesperson for the airline said..

The airline has been working with its banks and the relevant authorities and understands that the funds – less than $5 million – have now been frozen.

The airline expects these funds to be repaid shortly, and has taken steps to ensure that this type of transfer cannot recur.

The money stolen was apparently taken from an account normally used by the airline to pay for aviation fuel for its fleet of 400 aircraft.