A woman in a wheelchair missed her Ryanair flight to Bristol after being left behind by special assistance staff at Lanzarote Airport on May 12. The passenger was reportedly waiting in the accessible lounge at Terminal 1 when her flight departed without her.
The incident has been attributed to a coordination error by Mitie, the company contracted to provide assistance services at the airport. A Mitie spokesperson apologised directly to the passenger, arranged accommodation, and rebooked her on a flight the following day.
The passenger is believed to be British, though her nationality has not been confirmed. It is unclear if she was travelling alone or with companions. The airport operator Aena is investigating the incident and may take action against the service provider if necessary.
This is not the first such incident at Lanzarote Airport. In March 2023, two elderly passengers who requested assistance were also left behind and missed their easyJet flight to Liverpool. Reports at the time cited staffing shortages and heavy workloads as contributing factors.
