Three individuals requiring wheelchair assistance on an easyJet flight were abandoned on the tarmac as the plane departed without them.
Liz Weir, a renowned author and storyteller, was one of the passengers left stranded at Belfast International Airport on Friday afternoon, witnessing the aircraft leaving without them.
The 73-year-old arrived at the airport at 10:30am for her 1pm journey from Northern Ireland to Edinburgh, where she was scheduled to host an event later that day.
Due to a heart condition, Mrs. Weir, from County Antrim, relies on a wheelchair and had to wait for other passengers to board first.
When she was finally escorted to the boarding steps, they were retracted, and the pilot signaled that she could not board the plane.
Two other wheelchair users were also left behind.
‘The whole situation is completely discriminatory,’ she shared with The Irish News. ‘And to compound the issue, my luggage was still on the plane when it departed.’
Mrs. Weir revealed to the BBC that she only reached Edinburgh at 8:50pm due to limited available seats on subsequent flights and didn’t reach the city center until 11pm.
‘I was devastated as I needed to board that flight to make it to my event last night, which unfortunately I missed,’ she expressed.
‘Ticket-holders were waiting for me, and I failed to show up.’
The experience caused significant stress for both her and another abandoned wheelchair passenger.
‘It’s unimaginable,’ she added. ‘I never thought it possible for them to take luggage while leaving the passenger behind.’
She also shared on X that she was in tears. ‘I cried. A lot! And loudly. Not good for stress levels,’ she documented.
An easyJet representative stated: ‘We deeply regret the incident regarding flight EZY55 from Belfast to Edinburgh on Friday, where three passengers requiring special assistance were overlooked.’
‘We have promptly addressed this with our service provider and ground handling team to investigate the circumstances.’
‘We are taking all necessary steps to support the passengers, arranging alternative flights to Glasgow and Edinburgh later in the evening to swiftly transport them to their destination,’ the spokesperson mentioned. ‘Throughout their wait, our team provided support and refreshment vouchers.’
‘Compensation owed to them will also be processed.
‘Our top priority is the well-being of our customers, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.’
In another unfortunate air travel incident, a British Airways flight from London to Texas redirected to Canada after nine hours due to technical issues before returning to the UK.
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EasyJet Apologizes for Leaving Wheelchair Passengers Stranded on Plane
EasyJet recently faced backlash after leaving wheelchair passengers stranded on a plane.
The incident occurred when the airline departed without assisting wheelchair users off the aircraft, sparking criticism and concerns over passenger welfare.
Upon realizing the oversight, EasyJet issued an apology and expressed regret for the distress caused to the affected passengers.
The airline assured that they are investigating the matter to prevent similar incidents in the future and to uphold their commitment to providing inclusive services for all passengers.
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