A flight from Spain to London Gatwick was thrown into chaos and delayed for nearly half a day after a British family allegedly boarded the aircraft with their deceased grandmother, claiming she was merely asleep.
Chaotic Scenes Before Takeoff
The incident unfolded on Friday morning on an easyJet flight scheduled to depart Malaga at 11:15am and land at Gatwick Airport at 1:10pm. Witnesses reported that a group of five relatives assisted their 89-year-old grandmother, who was in a wheelchair, onto the aircraft. Concerned ground staff questioned the family about the elderly woman's condition, but they insisted she was 'just tired' and 'absolutely fine'.
Passenger Petra Boddington described seeing the woman 'slumped unconscious in a wheelchair'. In a Facebook video that garnered over 58,000 views, she questioned, 'EasyJet, when did you start letting dead people onto planes?' Another passenger, Tracy-Ann Kitching, claimed she saw the woman being wheeled onto the plane with someone holding her head.
Flight Turned Around and Major Delay
The aircraft began taxiing but was abruptly stopped just before take-off. Suspicious cabin crew had realised the woman showed no signs of life, and the plane was turned around on the runway. The Civil Guard in Malaga confirmed officers were called to the aircraft, where the woman was pronounced dead.
The discovery led to a massive disruption. The flight did not eventually depart until 10:47pm local time, nearly 12 hours later, landing at Gatwick around midnight. Passengers were forced to wait through the lengthy delay as authorities dealt with the situation.
Conflicting Accounts and Airline Response
EasyJet and official sources provided a different account from the shocked passengers. A spokesperson for the airline stated: 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the customer who sadly passed away.' They emphasised that the woman had a valid medical 'fit to fly' certificate and was being supported by medical personnel during her journey.
The airline clarified that it was only after boarding that the passenger required medical assistance and sadly passed away. The Civil Guard statement supported this, confirming she was permitted to fly with the necessary medical documentation. It is believed no arrests were made following the incident.
The event has sparked a debate about airline procedures and passenger welfare. While easyJet maintains that protocols were followed, eyewitness accounts paint a picture of a deeply distressing situation for all onboard, raising questions about the checks performed before boarding.
