Brit granny discovered useless on flight ‘was propped up and all of us knew what occurred’
Passengers on an easyJet flight from Malaga to Gatwick have described their horror after an elderly British woman was declared dead before takeoff, causing major delays
A traveller aboard an easyJet flight has disclosed how carers were forced to support an unresponsive woman’s head after she was wheeled onto the aircraft before being pronounced dead moments prior to departure.
Fellow passengers were taken aback when the elderly woman was brought aboard in a wheelchair, despite appearing completely unresponsive. The service was scheduled to operate from Malaga to Gatwick, but was subsequently cancelled while taxiing after stunned cabin crew discovered the woman had passed away.
Petra Boddington, who was among the travellers on the flight, had been seated near the unfortunate British grandmother. She revealed that her fellow passengers had grown increasingly worried about the woman’s condition, particularly noting how she had collapsed forward in her seat.
Petra has now spoken candidly about the incident to The Sun. The British expat said she first spotted the “fragile, old lady” at the airport.
She explained that the woman was wheeled onto the aircraft by ground personnel, with seated passengers able to observe as she was pushed past them. She recounted: “People turned in their seats and went, ‘oh my god, she looks dead’.
“She was a fragile, old lady who was curled up and doubled over in a chair in a not very comfortable position. Anybody with eyes could see that she was not fit to fly and it wasn’t just me that thought it, it was everybody else that she went past.
“People sat in front of me even said they’d seen the people that were with her holding her head up. We all thought that she looked dead.”
The elderly woman had been accompanied by carers on the flight and was seated in a special assistance seat at the end of a row. As the plane readied for its 11.15am departure, the crew conducted their standard pre-flight checks.
However, when they checked on the elderly passenger, they expressed concern that she may have passed away in her seat. Consequently, the journey was immediately postponed, and emergency personnel boarded the aircraft to assess the passenger’s condition.
Sadly, she was declared deceased on the plane itself. At present, it remains unclear exactly when she died, and whether this occurred during the flight or prior to boarding.
EasyJet previously stated that the passenger had a fit to fly certificate before the journey.
Petra added: “As soon as the plane turned around and the captain announced there had been a medical emergency, everybody turned to each other and said, ‘well we know why?’ Then we were all taken off the plane and back at the gates. That’s when everyone started complaining and asked how she was allowed on.”
She continued: “I honestly feel sorry for the woman. She should have never have been allowed on that plane. I think it’s disgusting that she was allowed on but ultimately, the poor woman has lost her life.”
Fellow passenger Tracy-Ann Kitching took to social media to express her fury at the budget carrier. She posted: “easyJet – you are unbelievable! Why did you let a dead person on our flight? ! Special assitance [the service that helps board 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!”.
Certain travellers faced delays exceeding 12 hours as a result of the incident. What became of the elderly passenger and her companions following the flight remains unclear, though a Civil Guard spokesperson in Málaga confirmed they were summoned to attend to an elderly British woman aboard the aircraft.
Furious passengers reportedly questioned crew members about the incident and what transpired before boarding, with staff allegedly claiming they had been reassured by the woman’s carers that she was merely ‘tired’ and ‘unwell’. EasyJet has maintained that the accusations are baseless and that the woman was alive when she embarked.
The flight’s co-pilot informed passengers he would compile a report on the incident incorporating their accounts.
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