Elon Musk's social media platform X experienced another service disruption on Friday, January 17, 2026. This marked the second outage for the platform within just three days.
Ryanair Takes a Cheeky Jab at X's Technical Troubles
The Irish budget airline Ryanair spotted an opportunity for humor during the latest X outage. The company posted directly on the platform, asking Elon Musk if he perhaps needed Wi-Fi. This playful dig quickly caught attention across the internet.
Elon Musk Fires Back with Sarcastic Proposal
The tech billionaire did not let the comment slide. Musk responded sharply to Ryanair's post with a sarcastic suggestion. He proposed buying the airline and putting someone named Ryan in charge. This clever pun on the company's name turned a technical glitch into a viral exchange.
Musk wrote directly on X, questioning whether he should purchase Ryanair and appoint an actual Ryan as CEO. His response demonstrated his characteristic quick wit and willingness to engage publicly with critics.
Background of the Public Feud Between Musk and Ryanair CEO
This exchange did not happen in isolation. It comes amid an ongoing public spat between Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. The conflict began when O'Leary publicly dismissed rumors about equipping Ryanair flights with Musk's Starlink satellite internet service.
During a radio interview on Newstalk, O'Leary made his position clear. He stated he would pay no attention to Elon Musk, calling the tech billionaire an idiot. O'Leary emphasized that Musk might be very wealthy but remained an idiot in his assessment.
Musk's Counterattack and Escalation
Elon Musk did not take these comments lightly. He responded on his own platform, calling the Ryanair CEO an utter idiot. Musk went further by suggesting the airline should fire O'Leary from his position.
The war of words quickly went viral across the internet. The exchange garnered over 4.4 million views, showing significant public interest in this clash between two prominent business figures.
Ryanair's Practical Reasons for Rejecting Starlink
Michael O'Leary explained his company's decision in detail. He questioned Musk's knowledge about aviation and aircraft drag. The Ryanair CEO presented concrete financial reasons for rejecting Starlink service on their flights.
O'Leary estimated the cost of installing aerial antennas on their aircraft. He projected an annual expense between $200 and $250 million. This would translate to approximately one extra dollar for every passenger they fly.
The budget airline CEO emphasized that passengers would not pay for internet access. He noted that travelers might use free Wi-Fi but would refuse to pay even one euro for the service. Given these economic realities, Ryanair decided against implementing Starlink on their aircraft.
O'Leary's Broader Criticism of Social Media
The Ryanair CEO expanded his criticism beyond just Elon Musk. He described X as a cesspit and expressed relief at being too old for social media involvement. O'Leary revealed he maintains no social media accounts, considering them a waste of time.
He connected his criticism to broader political concerns as well. O'Leary referenced Musk's past support for Donald Trump's election campaign. This added another layer to their disagreement beyond just business decisions.
The exchange highlights how technical issues on digital platforms can spark broader conversations. What began as a service outage evolved into a public debate about technology costs, business decisions, and personal conflicts between industry leaders.
