A passenger sitting next to an elderly woman, whom other passengers suspected had passed away before the flight, has refuted claims that she was already deceased.
The flight operated by easyJet from Malaga to London Gatwick on December 19 faced a delay exceeding 12 hours after the crew identified that the woman required immediate medical attention. Subsequently, it was confirmed that she had passed away.
Despite assertions from fellow passengers that the woman was already deceased when her family brought her onto the plane, easyJet has stated that she had been cleared for travel before boarding.
A man who claimed to have been seated next to the woman has contradicted the claims, affirming that he witnessed her alive when she entered the aircraft.
In response to social media comments, Tony Coatesworth clarified that the woman was not deceased when placed in the seat beside him, and only two additional individuals accompanied her, assisted by Spanish special aid staff. Coatesworth emphasized the misinformation circulating on social media and highlighted that the woman was breathing when he saw her.
He urged others to consider the feelings of the woman’s family amid the inaccurate information spreading online.
The flight schedule from Malaga to Gatwick, originally set for departure at 11:15 am with an estimated arrival at 1:10 pm, was severely disrupted, leading to a delay of nearly 12 hours post the incident.
The aircraft eventually departed from Malaga at 10:47 pm local time, reaching London close to midnight.
Another passenger, Elizabeth Rowland, expressed her immediate belief that the woman appeared lifeless upon sight. She recounted the family’s attempts to rouse the woman and communicate with her as if she were conscious.
Petra Boddington, another passenger, criticized easyJet ground staff for allowing the woman onboard despite her visibly distressed condition. Boddington questioned the decision to permit her entry and the subsequent disruption caused to other passengers’ travel plans.
Various passengers, including Tracy-Ann Kitching, expressed dismay over the incident, questioning easyJet’s actions and decision-making process in allowing a deceased individual onto the flight.
The Civil Guard in Malaga confirmed their involvement in assisting the elderly British woman, who was pronounced dead on the plane. A Civil Guard representative disclosed that the woman was declared deceased just after 11 am on the day of departure.
An easyJet spokesperson acknowledged the incident, stating that the flight returned to the gate before takeoff due to a passenger needing urgent medical attention, leading to the unfortunate passing of the passenger.
The airline extended condolences to the passenger’s family and friends, offering support during the challenging time. They emphasized the safety and well-being of passengers and crew as their top priority and thanked passengers for their understanding regarding the delay.