Passengers claim the 89-year-old woman appeared dead before boarding the easyJet flight on December 18, with family allegedly talking to her as if alive – but the airline said she had fit to fly certificate
The family of the pensioner discovered dead on an easyJet aircraft were ‘behaving as if she was alive’, a passenger has alleged.
The December 18 Málaga to Gatwick flight was preparing for take-off when a crew member reported concerns about a passenger. Emergency services raced to the aircraft and the 89-year-old woman was declared dead.
EasyJet stated medical help was only required after she had boarded and that she possessed a fit to fly certificate. However, several passengers have alleged the pensioner had already died before being wheeled aboard by relatives. Following the aircraft’s return to the terminal, the flight was postponed by 11 hours.
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Elizabeth Rowland was seated close to the pensioner both before boarding and during the flight. Describing the scenes at 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.”, reports the Daily Star. Once the aircraft 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 added: “They showed not one ounce of emotion. They seemed like they were trying to make everything seem normal.” Petra Boddington, another passenger on the flight, was sitting close to the unfortunate British grandmother.
She disclosed that fellow travellers had become increasingly concerned about the woman’s state, especially observing how she had slumped forward in her seat. Petra spoke openly about the incident to The Sun. The British expat said she initially noticed the “fragile, elderly lady” at the airport.
She described how the woman was wheeled aboard the aircraft by ground staff, with seated passengers witnessing as she was pushed past them. She recalled: “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.”
