Germany lays charges in Ryanair pilots 'tax fraud' probe

German prosecutors said Thursday they had charged five employees of a British recruitment agency working with Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair over millions of euros in allegedly unpaid social security payments for its pilots. No Ryanair staff were among the accused but "investigations against employees of Ryanair over incitement to the alleged activities continue," said the prosecution service in the western city of Koblenz. The five employees of two British-based recruitment agencies allegedly withheld a total of about E6m in social security contributions for 277 pilots flying Germany routes for Ryanair. News of the indictments came as the no-frills carrier faces the threat of more labour unrest in Germany and other European countries where pilots have vowed to fight for better pay and conditions. No trial date has been set yet for the five unnamed accused, who are aged 35 to 62 and who could face up to five years' jail or fines if found guilty, said the prosecutors. The accused allegedly withheld social security payments in 920 cases between January 2007 and June 2016. The charges were filed in September but only now publicised after the accused had been informed, said the prosecutors. <br/>