A London-bound easyJet flight faced an 11-hour and 15-minute delay after an elderly passenger died onboard, sparking claims from fellow travellers that the woman appeared unwell during boarding.
Flight Disruption Following Onboard Tragedy
The incident occurred on Thursday 18 December aboard flight EZY8070 from Malaga, Spain, to London Gatwick. The 89-year-old British woman required medical assistance during the journey and sadly passed away. A spokesperson for the Malaga Civil Guard confirmed officers responded to the death of an elderly British woman just after 11am that day.
According to easyJet, the customer was travelling with a valid 'fit to fly' medical certificate and was in the care of two medical professionals. The airline stated it was only after boarding that she required assistance and subsequently died.
Passenger Accounts Raise Questions
However, accounts from other passengers on the Airbus A319 aircraft present a different picture. Several took to social media to claim the woman was 'already dead' when she boarded in a wheelchair.
Passenger Petra Boddington told The Sun: "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." She added that people nearby saw the medical personnel accompanying the woman holding her head up. "We all thought that she looked dead," Boddington stated.
Major Delay and Airline Response
Witnesses reported that the plane had begun taxiing towards the runway when cabin crew were alerted and the aircraft returned to the gate. The flight, originally scheduled to depart Malaga at 11.15am, eventually took off at 10.30pm – more than 11 hours late.
In a statement, an easyJet spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the customer who sadly passed away, and we are offering support and assistance at this difficult time. She was permitted to fly because she had a medical 'fit to fly' certificate and was being supported by medical personnel during her journey."
The spokesperson emphasised that the wellbeing of passengers and crew is the airline's highest priority and asked for customer understanding in such circumstances.
