A British family have been accused of wheeling a dead relative onto an easyJet flight from Malaga to London Gatwick.
The family of five boarded the aircraft with the unnamed 89-year-old woman in a wheelchair, claiming she was just ‘unwell’ and ‘very tired’.
They took her to back of the plane to be seated, however cabin crew soon realised something was wrong while the plane was taxiing for take off.
It quickly transpired that she showed ‘no signs of life’ and the plane had to be turned around, forcing a 12-hour delay.
In a statement issued afterwards, easyJet said the passenger held a medical fitness-to-fly certificate and that, according to the airline’s information, she was alive at the time of boarding.
However, other passengers took to social media to claim otherwise.
In a post on Tik Tok, passenger Petra Boddington said: ‘EasyJet, when did you start letting dead people on planes.
‘EasyJet allowed someone who looked completely dead onto the plane and then funnily enough just as we were about to take off they died.
‘We got pulled back to the terminal, whole flight cancelled, everybody pulled off the plane.
‘They wouldn’t let you on if you were drunk but apparently it’s okay if you’re dead and you look dead.
‘She really looked dead, in a chair being wheeled by her family and apparently her family said she was absolutely fine.
‘She was not absolutely fine. Everybody that she went past went ‘oh my god she looks dead’.
‘So easyJet you should be ashamed of yourself.’
Another passenger, Tracy-Ann wrote on Facebook: ‘EasyJet – you are unbelievable! Why did you let a dead person on our flight?!
‘Special assistance 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!’
A Guardia Civil spokesperson said: ‘She was pronounced dead on the aircraft which had been due to leave Malaga for London just after 11am yesterday morning.
‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the customer who sadly passed away and we are offering support and assistance at this difficult time.
‘She was permitted to fly because she had a medical ‘fit to fly’ certificate and was being supported by medical personal during her journey.’
No further police action is believed to have been taken.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
