- Anthony Burns, 63, charged with two counts of causing death and one of causing serious injury
- Crash involved a taxi struck by two lorries; taxi driver survived with serious head injuries
- Greenhalgh and Fernandes were Ryanair pilots; Greenhalgh had married three months prior
A lorry driver has been charged in connection with the deaths of two Ryanair pilots in a collision on the M62 motorway.
The victims, 28-year-old Matt Greenhalgh and 24-year-old Jamie Fernandes, were passengers in a taxi that was struck by two lorries near Warrington on 11 July 2024. The taxi driver survived but sustained serious head injuries.
Cheshire Police confirmed that 63-year-old Anthony Burns, from Headington Road in Upton, Wirral, will appear in court next month facing two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He is due to appear at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 25 November.
The collision occurred around 5:31 a.m. BST between junctions 7 and 8 on the westbound carriageway. Greenhalgh was a captain and Fernandes a first officer with Ryanair.
Tributes to the Pilots
Greenhalgh’s family described him as adventurous and passionate about life, having married his wife Hannah just three months before his death.
“Matt had a passion for life and seized every opportunity that came his way,” his family said. “He was a loving husband, thoughtful son, loyal brother, caring grandson, respected colleague and valued friend. We are lost without you. You are forever in our hearts.”
Fernandes’s family said he was fulfilling his childhood dream and made the most of every moment of his too-short life.
“Our darling boy was a loving son, grandson, nephew and cousin. He is the light of our lives and always will be,” they said, highlighting his humour and wide circle of friends.
Ryanair to Honour Pilots
Ryanair announced plans to install a plaque in their memory at the East Midlands Training Centre. The airline will also introduce the ‘Matt Greenhalgh and Jamie Fernandes Memorial Award’, presented annually to the top-performing cadet.
