A Ryanair pilot has been sacked with immediate effect, after he appeared on a Channel 4 documentary Monday which raised concerns over fuel policies and safety at the airline.

John Goss is one Ryanair's longest serving pilots.

In a statement last night, the airline said it has instructed its lawyers to issue legal proceedings against Mr. Goss.

Earlier this week Ryanair also said it would sue Channel 4 for defamation, over claims made in the Dispatches 'Secrets from the Cockpit' programme.

The Irish Airline Pilots Association has sought an independent investigation into the effectiveness of the Irish Aviation Authority in the wake of the documentary.

However, the IAA says it operates in accordance with the European Aviation Safety Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations.

Ryanair statement

Ryanair issued a statement on John Goss last night. In it the airline confirmed the order to issue legal proceedings, terming Goss' contributions to the programme as 'defamatory'.

Airline chiefs write "Since Mr Goss’s contribution to the C4 Dispatches programme is contradicted by his prior written confirmations to Ryanair of 10 July 2013 and again yesterday, 13 August 2013, that he has “no concerns” about Ryanair’s safety, the airline has today terminated Mr Goss’s employment with immediate effect."

A Ryanair spokesman said "Ryanair’s safety has been independently confirmed as being “on a par with the safest airlines in Europe”. It is delivered on a daily basis by over 9,000 outstanding aviation professionals whose commitment to safety is absolute. We will not allow a Ryanair employee to defame our safety on national television just 3 weeks after he confirmed in writing to Ryanair that he had no concerns with safety and no reason to make any confidential safety report to either the IAA or Ryanair."