A 13-year-old boy with Tourette syndrome was prevented from boarding a British Airways flight at Gatwick Airport after he repeatedly shouted the word 'bomb'. Armed police escorted the teenager and his family from the airport, despite the family having informed the airline in advance about his condition.
The boy, Mason, was due to travel with his family to Alicante, Spain. His father, Martyn, said the family had spent around £4,000 on flights for their group of ten. They had contacted BA the day before to warn them that Mason, who was anxious about flying, might say something inappropriate due to his condition. Mason was also wearing a sunflower lanyard, which indicates a hidden disability, and carried a diagnosis letter.
Martyn told the BBC that everything went smoothly until they reached the gate, where Mason shouted 'bomb' several times. A BA manager then told the family they would not be allowed to board, stating: 'We are not refusing him because he's got a disability. We are refusing him because there's been a threat made that he has a bomb in his bag.' The manager added that due to the multiple threats, they had to take the matter seriously.
Martyn described the experience as 'horrendous' and said everyone was in tears. Mason, his parents, and his one-year-old sister were escorted out of the airport, while his 16-year-old sister was allowed to board with family friends. The rest of the family spent the night in a hotel and paid £2,400 to fly with Vueling the following day.
A BA spokesperson said Mason's disability was not the reason for the decision, calling it 'an extremely difficult, complex and distressing situation'. They added that due to 'a number of contributing factors', the group was not allowed to travel. Tourette syndrome causes sudden, repetitive sounds or movements known as tics, which sufferers cannot control.
