The 89-year-old British granny was pronounced dead on the plane by the emergency service after being wheeled on by family members and carers. The Malaga to Gatwick service was delayed 11 hours
The family of the granny found dead on an easyJet plane were ‘acting as if she was alive’, a passenger has claimed. The December 18 Malaga to Gatwick flight was taxiing on the runway when a member of staff reported an issue with a passenger.
The emergency services rushed to to the scene and the 89-year-old woman was pronounced dead. EasyJet said medical assistance was only needed after she had boarded and that she had a fit to fly certificate.
But several passengers have claimed the granny was dead before she was wheeled on board by family members. After the plane returned to the terminal, the flight was delayed by 11 hours.
Elizabeth Rowland sat near the granny before boarding and on the flight. Speaking of the scenes in the terminal, she told the Daily Mail: “Her family were trying to wake her up and saying, ‘Can you hear me? We’re going to get on the flight now, we’re going to board now’, and trying to give her something to drink…
“They were talking to her and acting as if she was alive.” After the plane had returned to the terminal, Elizabeth said: “None of the family seemed upset or like they were panicking, they weren’t crying or shocked – they were completely calm and talking to the paramedics.”
Elizabeth continued: “They showed not one ounce of emotion. They seemed like they were trying to make everything seem normal.”
Petra Boddington, another traveller on the flight, was 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 spoke 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.”
An easyJet spokesperson said in a statement: “Flight EZY8070 from Málaga 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.”
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