Sounds like some typical sensationalist and inaccurate reporting . . .
as the aircraft screeched to a halt just before the end of the runway
"
screeched"? - no ABS? And how did the reporter, sitting in 22A or wherever, know how far it was from the endof the runway?
spokesperson told The star the flight had 'experienced a technical fault with a rear light'
Either the FR spokesperson was very badly advised, or the newspaper did not even listen carefully. Come on! Maybe the aircrafts rear turn signals were INOP?
If the quotes posted are accurate, will FR be demanding 5,000 quid from the newspaper concerned? I hope so.
It was just an RTO, handled correctly, and the pax clearly informed what was going on (as soon as those up front had a moment to spare) Must have been a "quiet news day" 