A passenger who was seated directly across the aisle from an elderly British grandmother who died on an EasyJet flight has come forward to dispute widespread claims that she was already deceased when she boarded the aircraft. Tony Coatesworth, 71, has provided a detailed account of the tragic events on flight from Malaga to London Gatwick on Friday, insisting the woman was alive during boarding.
Passenger Account Contradicts Early Reports
Tony Coatesworth, a self-employed truck driver returning from a work trip, was seated in seat 25D, with only the aisle separating him from the 89-year-old woman in seat 25C. He told Metro that reports suggesting she was "already" dead before boarding are a "total fabrication." Coatesworth described seeing the elderly lady, who appeared "very poorly," being accompanied by two people—a young woman and a man in his mid-fifties.
"Earlier, I had seen her breathing," Coatesworth stated emphatically. He explained that as the aircraft taxied towards the runway, the younger female companion quietly alerted the man to a potential problem. Cabin crew were then notified and attempted to rouse the passenger, who seemed unresponsive. The captain was informed, and the decision was made to return the Airbus to its parking stand.
Chaotic Scenes and Professional Response
Coatesworth recalled the subsequent events clearly. Crew members lifted the woman from her seat and placed her at the rear of the plane in the staff seating area. Once the aircraft was stationary, doctors and assistance came on board, and all other passengers were instructed to disembark. He was full of praise for the EasyJet staff, describing them as "totally professional" and asserting they "couldn’t have done anymore."
He also revealed that friends of the grandmother's family had shared that she was flying to the UK to move into a care home closer to her loved ones, adding a layer of poignancy to the tragedy. Coatesworth expressed dismay at the behaviour of some fellow passengers and media outlets, saying: "Other people on the plane certainly have made a very big joke out of it. Her family must be absolutely devastated with the unbelievable actions of some people and certainly the media."
Conflicting Witness Statements and Airline Response
Another passenger, wellbeing expert Petra Boddington, provided a contrasting perspective to The Sun. She reported that numerous people on the flight expressed immediate concern, with some turning in their seats and exclaiming, "oh my god, she looks dead." Boddington described the woman as a "fragile, old lady who was curled up and doubled over" and stated, "Anybody with eyes could see that she was not fit to fly."
She further claimed that people sitting in front of her had seen the woman's companions holding her head up as she was brought onto the aircraft. In response to the swirling reports, EasyJet issued a firm statement confirming the woman was alive at boarding. A spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the customer who sadly passed away."
The airline clarified that the passenger was permitted to fly because she possessed a medical "fit to fly" certificate and was being supported by medical personnel during her journey. They confirmed that it was only after boarding that she required emergency medical assistance and sadly passed away. The spokesperson reiterated that the well-being of passengers and crew is the airline's highest priority.
