Disturbing allegations have surfaced from passengers on an easyJet flight who claim an 89-year-old woman was already dead when she was wheeled onto the aircraft in Malaga. The flight, bound for London Gatwick, was dramatically halted before take-off on 22 December after cabin crew discovered the elderly passenger had passed away.
Chilling Witness Accounts From Onboard
Multiple passengers have provided harrowing testimonies describing how the grandmother was brought down the aisle in a wheelchair, her neck supported by a brace and pillow as she slumped in her seat. Those seated nearby say they immediately sensed something was terribly wrong.
Nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Rowland, seated just three rows in front, told reporters she knew from the moment she saw the woman at the gate that she "wasn't with us". She described relatives attempting to wake the woman, saying "Can you hear me? We're going to get on the flight now", and acting as if she were still conscious.
Another passenger, Petra Boddington, recalled the shock that rippled through the cabin. "People turned in their seats and went, 'Oh my god, she looks dead'", she said. Petra added that fellow travellers saw relatives holding the woman's head up as she was positioned in her seat.
Conflicting Narratives and Airline Response
In stark contrast to these accounts, easyJet has firmly stated that the woman was alive when she boarded the aircraft. The airline confirmed that flight EZY8070 returned to stand prior to departure at approximately 11am after the customer required urgent medical assistance, and that she was sadly pronounced dead on board.
Further complicating the narrative, passenger Tony Coatesworth publicly disputed claims the woman was deceased when seated. He stated he saw her breathing and criticised the spread of "misinformation" on social media, urging compassion for the grieving family.
The Civil Guard in Málaga confirmed they attended the incident, pronouncing the British woman dead on the aircraft. The co-pilot advised passengers he would compile a report using their testimonies, indicating an internal review is underway.
Questions Over Ground Staff Procedures
The incident has raised serious questions about pre-flight checks and special assistance protocols. Passengers expressed outrage that ground staff, who reportedly asked the family five times if the woman was okay, allowed her to board in such a visibly frail state.
Petra Boddington questioned in a social media post: "To the naked eye she looked like she was already dead... so why would she be allowed on to the flight?" She and others have demanded answers from both the airline and Malaga Airport's Special Assistance team.
EasyJet has extended condolences to the family and offered support, emphasising that passenger and crew wellbeing is their highest priority. The flight was eventually rescheduled, departing nearly ten hours later at 9:30pm, disrupting the travel plans of all onboard.
As conflicting accounts circulate, the investigation continues into the tragic circumstances that unfolded on the tarmac in Spain, leaving a plane full of travellers deeply unsettled and a family in mourning.
