A doctor who missed a Ryanair flight after stopping to help an elderly woman who fell down an escalator at London Stansted Airport has been charged a £100 transfer fee by the airline. The doctor, who was travelling with a young baby, had to rebook on a later flight to Rome and incurred additional costs of £338 for car hire and a hotel.
The incident occurred when the doctor was nearing the departure gate for a flight to Pescara, Italy. The elderly woman sustained a broken wrist, deep cuts, and a head injury, and the doctor provided medical assistance until staff and paramedics arrived. Despite asking for gate crew to be notified of the delay, the doctor arrived at the gate 15 minutes before departure, only to find it closed.
Ryanair refused to waive the £100 transfer fee, stating that it is each passenger's responsibility to present at the boarding gate at least 30 minutes before departure. The airline added that the doctor failed to present at the gate before it closed, unlike the 154 other passengers who boarded on time.
The doctor expressed disappointment that Ryanair did not show goodwill for the public-spirited act, saying the airline expects passengers to bypass anyone in need or take the financial hit. The doctor also lost a car hire booking in Pescara and had to pay £211 to rebook at Rome airport, plus £127 for a hotel night before driving 150 miles to Pescara.
