An investigation is underway after a family from the UK was accused of attempting to board an easyJet flight with a deceased elderly relative. The shocking incident occurred on a flight scheduled to depart from Málaga, Spain, to London Gatwick.
Passengers' Harrowing Accounts of the Boarding
According to multiple passenger accounts, the 89-year-old British woman was wheeled onto the aircraft by five relatives. Witnesses state that the family informed easyJet staff that the woman was merely unwell and had fallen asleep. However, fellow travellers immediately expressed concern over her appearance.
In a video posted on TikTok, passenger Petra Boddington described the scene. "EasyJet allowed someone who looked completely dead onto the plane," she claimed. She added that many passengers who saw the elderly woman being moved past them remarked on her lifeless appearance.
Another passenger, Tracy-Ann Kitching, took to Facebook to express her disbelief. She questioned why special assistance staff, who help passengers with reduced mobility, did not raise an alarm. "I saw her wheeled onto the plane; someone was holding her head as they went past me!" she wrote.
Flight Cancellation and Official Response
The situation escalated after the aircraft had begun taxiing towards the runway. Suspicious cabin crew are said to have then discovered the woman showed no signs of life. The plane was subsequently pulled back to the terminal, and the entire flight was cancelled, forcing all passengers to disembark.
Spain's Civil Guard confirmed the tragic event, stating the woman was pronounced dead on the aircraft just after 11am on the day of the incident. In a statement, easyJet offered condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.
The airline explained that the customer was permitted to fly because she possessed a medical 'fit to fly' certificate and was being accompanied by medical personnel for her journey. "It was only after boarding that the customer then required medical assistance and she sadly passed away," the statement read.
Fallout and Calls for Accountability
The cancellation caused significant disruption for other holidaymakers. Petra Boddington sarcastically contrasted airline policies, noting, "They wouldn’t let you on if you were drunk but apparently it’s okay if you’re dead." She called on the airline to be ashamed of the lapse in protocol.
Despite the distressing circumstances, some passengers praised the crew's handling of the aftermath. Tracy-Ann Kitching commended the co-pilot who addressed passengers' questions, describing him as professional and personable.
The incident raises serious questions about pre-flight checks and the verification processes for passengers requiring medical assistance. Authorities and easyJet are reviewing the circumstances that led to a deceased individual being allowed to board a commercial flight.
