Holidaymakers have expressed fury and disbelief after an elderly British woman, believed by fellow passengers to have already passed away, was wheeled onto an easyJet aircraft in Spain. The incident caused a major disruption, delaying the flight to London Gatwick by nearly 12 hours.
Chaotic Boarding and Alarming Claims
The extraordinary scene unfolded on Thursday, 19 December 2025, on easyJet flight EZY8070 from Malaga to London Gatwick. Witnesses state that the 89-year-old woman was slumped unconscious in a wheelchair as five family members assisted her through the gate and onto the plane.
Concerned staff reportedly questioned the group about the pensioner's condition multiple times. Passengers allege the relatives insisted she was "just tired" and "poorly," with one even claiming a family member said it was fine because they were "doctors." The woman was wheeled to the rear of the aircraft and lifted into her seat with the help of her relatives.
A Grim Discovery and Lengthy Delay
The aircraft began taxiing for take-off, but came to an abrupt halt moments before departure. According to multiple passenger accounts, cabin crew had discovered the woman had died. The plane returned to the stand and was met by emergency services, including the Malaga Civil Guard, who confirmed the death on board.
The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 11.15am and arrive in Gatwick around 1.10pm, was thrown into chaos. The deceased woman was removed from the aircraft, but the nearly 12-hour delay left other travellers stranded. The plane eventually took off at 10.47pm local time, landing close to midnight.
Passenger Fury and Airline Response
Fellow travellers took to social media to vent their anger, questioning how the situation was allowed to happen. Passenger Petra Boddington criticised easyJet ground staff, asking "What were they thinking?" and stating the woman "looked like she was already dead."
Another passenger, Tracy-Ann Kitching, posted on Facebook: "easyJet – you are unbelievable! Why did you let a dead person on our flight?!" She also claimed a doctor on board confirmed the woman was deceased when placed in her seat. Despite her frustration, Tracy-Ann expressed empathy for the deceased, her family, and the crew, while praising the co-pilot for his handling of the situation.
In a statement, an easyJet spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the customer... The wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority." The airline confirmed the woman had a fit-to-fly certificate and was alive when she boarded, offering passengers food and drink vouchers for the delay.
The fate of the woman's remains and whether her family faced any action from Spanish authorities remains unclear, though they are believed not to have been detained.
