AER LINGUS HAS said this evening it “sincerely apologises” after a passenger’s luggage – containing the ashes of his deceased parents – was lost in transit.

However, the luggage has since been located and arrangements are being made to transport them to Ireland.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio One’s Drivetime programme, Bob Gilmour described arriving in Dublin on Saturday to find the luggage gone ahead of a planned funeral ceremony for his parents tomorrow.

Gilmour’s parents were originally from Ballymena and Birmingham, respectively, and emigrated to Australia in 1967. Prior to their deaths, they expressed a wish to have their ashes scattered on their family graves in their home countries.

After coming to Dublin via Milan, Gilmour said two bags that were checked in hadn’t been seen since. 

“We’ve had zero success,” he told Mary Wilson on the RTÉ show, adding that the process of filling out forms online and waiting for a response so far had been “less than useless”. 

He said: “The whole process seems to be that once you’ve filled out your paperwork, go away and don’t annoy us until you get your bags back.”

Gilmour – who spent the first 11 years in Ballymena – said that the ceremony would still go ahead tomorrow, with or without the ashes. 

In a statement to the programme, Aer Lingus apologised and added: “We recognise the sensitivities of this particular situation and are working with all the parties involved to retrieve the baggage as quickly as we can.”

In an update this evening, Aer Lingus said the luggage had been found and would be transported as soon as possible. 

A spokesperson said: “Aer Lingus can confirm that the missing baggage has been located in Milan Malpensa Airport. Regrettably it was not loaded onto the Aer Lingus flight by the baggage handlers at Malpensa Airport.

The baggage will now arrive overnight into Dublin Airport where it will be immediately transported to the family. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Gilmour had said he’s been making jokes about the whole situation.

“Mum and dad decided to elope again,” he said. “Or they’re on a world tour while they’ve still got a chance.”