Ashes and false legs left behind on jets

Even celebrities are not immune to losing their property, according to Virgin Atlantic, which said a wheelchair used by Kevin McHale – who plays Artie in Glee – was found on board and returned.

The most commonly forgotten items are books, with an estimated 12,000 left behind each year.

The airline said they also find about 10,500 pairs of glasses and 5,000 mobile phones on their planes every year.

Flight services manager Laura Hutcheson said: “I was surprised to find an artificial limb left behind by one of our upper class passengers but was delighted that we were able to re-unite them.”

She offered the explanation: “Many passengers start their holidays the moment they get on board and when they relax into their adventure, they can often forget the basics of checking they don’t leave anything behind.”