A man who was filmed racially abusing an elderly woman on a Ryanair flight has been identified, police say.

Footage posted on social media appeared to show a plane passenger calling Delsie Gayle an “ugly black bastard” and telling her “don’t speak to me in a foreign language, you stupid ugly cow”.

The incident is believed to have taken place on Ryanair flight FR015 at Barcelona Airport on October 19, before it left for London Stansted.

Essex Police said on Tuesday: “We have worked to identify both parties involved in this incident and passed the information to the Spanish authorities who are leading on this investigation.

“Our officers will continue to provide assistance where necessary throughout the course of this case.”

This racist white man refused to sit next to an elderly black woman on a Ryanair flight.

He called her an “ugly black bastard” & threatened to push her to another seat if she didn’t move to another seat.

Ryanair – DOES NOTHING!!!

UK twitter identify HIM!!!

RETWEET THIS! pic.twitter.com/70XNsvTZBg

— StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) October 20, 2018

The woman who was subject to the abuse said she felt “very low” about the incident.

Speaking toITV News, Mrs Gayle, 77, from east London, said: “I feel very low. He pays his fare, I pay mine. So why did he abuse me for that? Because of the colour of my skin.

“If I had done that to him, I’m sure they would have called the police.”

Ms Gayle said her experience has discouraged her from flying with the low-cost airline in future.

She continued: “I feel really depressed about it. I go to bed and say: ‘what have I done?’

“I haven’t done anything to attack him, it’s because of the colour of my skin I was abused like that.

“I decided I would not fly with that airline because they don’t treat you with no respect.”

Her daughter, Carol, who was with her mother on the Barcelona flight, criticised Ryanair’s response, and claimed they have not yet received an apology from the airline.

She told ITV News: “He should have been moved or taken off the plane and nothing was done.

“I know if that was a black person racially abusing an elderly woman the police would have been involved. It would have been a different matter.

“Nobody has apologised. We’ve not had nothing. We just want an open apology from Ryanair.

“I can’t even watch the video any more, it’s just so upsetting.”

People on Twitter have also criticised the airline’s silence over the controversy.

So essentially #Ryanair moved this lady to accommodate the racist views of the man. Welcome back to the 1930s.

— Kayleigh (@tomakeachange1) October 20, 2018

So @Ryanair @RyanairFlights instead of kicking this man off the flight, you accommodate to his needs???? I’m not even shocked. I’m angry and disgusted. And I can’t stress enough, he is lucky nobody rearranged his face. #RyanAir #RacistPassenger

— 1inaBillionGuy (@1inaBillionGuy) October 20, 2018

Explain yourself @Ryanair! Why was that vile racist man not removed from the flight??? Im an ex Cabin Manager and if i was working that flight he would have been offloaded immediately! Disgusting!! #Ryanair #racist

— Bry (@bpd1) October 21, 2018

I cannot believe #Ryanair allowed this guy to stay in his seat let alone take the flight !

pic.twitter.com/iztO563fJX

— David Elsworth (@Bluemaxuk) October 21, 2018

Just in case you needed a reminder on how to properly take a flight, class is in session for Mamamia Flight School.