People who were on the plane said the 89-year-old woman looked dead when she got on, but EasyJet insists she was alive and had medical clearance.
Passengers say they were stunned to learn that an elderly British traveller who was pushed onto an EasyJet plane by family members had already died.
Five family members helped the 89-year-old get aboard the plane. People who saw it happen said the group told airline staff that she was sick and had fallen asleep. But just before the flight left, the crew found out that the woman had died.
The plane had to turn around before it had left the tarmac, and the trip from Spain to Gatwick was put off for 12 hours. Travellers said that the dead woman had been transported to the back of the plane in a wheelchair and then lifted into her seat by five family members.
The other passengers said that the group only got on the plane because they told a service worker at the gate that they were “just tired.” One traveller even said they heard a group member tell the staffer it was okay since they were “doctors.”
The plane started its voyage towards the end of the runway after the group boarded the Málaga to Gatwick flight. However, just before it was supposed to leave, the jet suddenly stopped. Witnesses say that worried cabin crew members found out that the woman had died.
EasyJet says that the old woman had a fit to fly certificate and was alive when she got on the plane. But the passengers were sure there was more.
Petra Boddington couldn’t believe it: “What were the EasyJet ground workers thinking today? They asked the family five times if this woman was okay, but she clearly wasn’t!
“She looked dead to the naked eye, slumped over and unconscious in a wheelchair. So why was she allowed on the flight and then ruin everyone’s plans just to save the family repatriation?!” They wouldn’t let me on if I was drunk, but dead is fine? “What’s going on, EasyJet?”
“Everyone on the plane thought she looked sick when she got on,” said another passenger who didn’t want to be named. “She should never have been allowed to fly.”
A third traveller posted her anger on Facebook. “EasyJet, you are unbelievable!” Tracy-Ann Kitching wrote. Why did you let a dead guy on our flight? Special assistance, which assists passengers with disabilities or limited mobility get on board, is also to blame; they should have brought it up… I watched her being wheeled onto the plane, and someone was holding her head as they passed me! A real doctor on board said she was already dead when they put her in her seat.
Tracy went on, “But I have to feel sorry for the person who died, their family, and your cabin and ground crew; what a terrible situation for them.” I also want to thank the First Officer [co-pilot] who came out and patiently answered all of our questions. “Thank you for being professional and friendly.”
We don’t know what happened to the woman’s body after it was brought off the plane or what happened to her family members. However, it is believed that they were not detained when it was proven that the woman was dead.
The flight to Gatwick was supposed to leave around 11:15 a.m. and get there around 1:10 p.m., two hours later. But after the event, passengers had to wait approximately 12 hours.
Finally, the flight left the popular vacation location in Spain at 10:47 p.m. local time and landed in London about midnight. Passengers were given vouchers for food and drinks because of the long wait, but some said that wasn’t enough for such a long delay.
A representative for the Malaga Guardia Civil said that they were called to the plane because of an old British woman. They said, “She was pronounced dead on the plane, which was supposed to leave Malaga for London just after 11 a.m. yesterday.”
An easyJet official said, “Flight EZY8070 from Malaga to London Gatwick had to go back to the gate before takeoff because a passenger needed immediate medical help.”
“Emergency services greeted the flight, but regrettably the customer died. We are thinking of the customer’s family and friends and are here to help them at this hard time. EasyJet always puts the safety of its passengers and crew first, and we thank our passengers for being patient with the delay.
Author: Derek Appleton
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