‘Dead lady’ wheeled onto EasyJet aircraft by relations, declare witnesses

Holidaymakers have alleged that an elderly British passenger was dead when she was wheeled onto an easyJet flight from Spain to Gatwick.

Witnesses have claimed the 89-year-old woman was helped on board the aircraft by five of her relatives who told airline staff she was unwell and asleep. They claimed that before take off cabin crew were made aware that the woman had passed away. The plane was turned around before it left the runway and the flight was delayed by 12 hours, reports MailOnline.

Passengers have said the body was pushed in a wheelchair to the group’s seats before the woman was lifted into her seat, helped by five family members. EasyJet has said she was still alive when she boarded.

Witnesses reportedly claimed the group had only been allowed on the plane because they told a boarding clerk, who had questioned the woman’s apparent ill health, that she was “just tired”.

Passengers have claimed the plane stopped moments before take-off when the suspicious cabin crew realised she was dead.

EasyJet have said the witnesses were wrong, that the passenger had a fit to fly certificate and was alive when she boarded the plane.

Petra Boddington, a passenger on the plane, said: “What were easyJet ground staff thinking today? They asked the family five times if this woman was ok… she was clearly not ok!

“To the naked eye she looked like she was already dead, slumped unconscious in a wheelchair, so why would she be allowed on to the flight and then disrupt everyone’s plans… purely to save the family repatriation?!? If I was drunk they wouldn’t let me on.. but apparently dead is ok?! EasyJet what’s going on?”

A witness who wanted to stay anonymous claimed: “Everyone on the plane thought she looked dead when she arrived – she should never have been passed as fit to fly.”

Tracy-Ann Kitching wrote on Facebook: “easyJet – you are unbelievable! Why did you let a dead person on our flight?! Special assistance [the service for boarding passengers with a disability or reduced mobility] are responsible too; they should have raised the issue.

“I saw her wheeled onto the plane; someone was holding her head as they went past me! An actual doctor onboard [confirmed] she was already dead when they put her in her seat.”

It is not known what happened to the woman’s body or the members of family.

A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Malaga confirmed officers had been called onto the plane because of an elderly British woman, adding: “She was pronounced dead on the aircraft which had been due to leave Malaga for London just after 11am yesterday morning.”

An easyJet spokesman said: “Flight EZY8070 from Malaga to London Gatwick returned to stand prior to departure due to a customer onboard requiring urgent medical assistance. The flight was met by emergency services however the customer sadly passed away.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the customer, and we are offering support and assistance at this difficult time. The wellbeing of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority and we would like to thank passengers for their understanding for the delay.”