Ryanair plane de-iced using buckets of water

The 'de-icing' took place at Brindisi airport in Italy

Aircraft often have to be de-iced before a flight during the cold winter weather – but it usually involves a special procedure.

But according to a video posted on Facebook by Italian politician Mauro D’Attis, a Ryanair aircraft at Brindisi Airport in southern Italy was instead de-iced using buckets of water.

The video shows airport ground crew walking up the stairs throwing buckets of water over the plane’s wing in an attempt to unfreeze it.

D’Attis added: “SHAME!”

The standard de-icing procedure involves the plane being sprayed with a special chemical to stop ice reforming again.

Brindisi airport operators were satisfied with the unorthodox de-icing procedure, according to The Sun, as the guidelines say “buckets of hot water at 60c are allowed when the air temperature is 0C”.

The airport operators added: “The Captain was aware and satisfied. The procedure was to remove a little residual snow. It was a perfectly safe procedure.”

It’s understood that Italy’s aviation watchdog will send inspectors to Brindisi airport to find out exactly what happened.

The Independent has contacted Ryanair for comment.