An 89-year-old British grandmother was allegedly wheeled onto an easyJet flight while already deceased, with fellow passengers claiming her family told cabin crew she was merely “tired” when questioned about her unresponsive state.
Story Highlights
- Passengers claim grandmother appeared “already dead” when boarding flight from Spain to London
- Five family members allegedly told crew “she’s just tired” and claimed to be doctors
- Flight delayed 12 hours after Spanish authorities boarded plane and pronounced her dead
- easyJet disputes timeline, claiming passenger was alive during boarding with medical certificate
- Incident dubbed “Weekend at Bernie’s” scenario by witnesses and media
The Boarding That Shocked Passengers
Flight U2 8070 from Málaga to London Gatwick became the center of controversy when fellow travelers witnessed what they described as a lifeless elderly woman being assisted onto the aircraft. Multiple passengers reported seeing the grandmother slumped in her wheelchair, completely unresponsive, with her head requiring physical support as family members maneuvered her to a rear seat.
When concerned cabin crew questioned the woman’s condition, her five accompanying relatives allegedly dismissed their concerns with reassurances that she was simply “tired” or “unwell.” One family member reportedly claimed medical expertise, stating “It’s OK, we’re doctors” to deflect further scrutiny from airline staff who were clearly troubled by what they observed.
The Conflicting Timelines Create Suspicion
The heart of this controversy lies in dramatically different accounts of when the grandmother actually died. Passengers maintain she appeared deceased before even boarding the aircraft, describing her as completely lifeless throughout the boarding process. Their eyewitness accounts paint a disturbing picture of a family potentially attempting to transport a corpse as a living passenger.
EasyJet vehemently disputes this timeline, insisting the passenger was alive during boarding and possessed a valid fit-to-fly medical certificate. According to the airline’s official statement, she died only after boarding was complete, during the aircraft’s taxi phase before takeoff. This version would absolve them of responsibility for allowing a deceased person onto their aircraft.
When Reality Collides With Regulations
The aircraft had already endured an all-day delay before this medical emergency unfolded, adding another layer of frustration for the 200 passengers aboard. Once cabin crew finally acted on their concerns, the plane returned to a remote stand where Spanish authorities boarded and officially pronounced the grandmother dead, triggering a cascade of procedures that would strand passengers for 12 hours total.
The incident raises serious questions about boarding procedures for elderly or infirm passengers. While medical certificates provide official clearance, they cannot substitute for basic observational skills when a passenger appears unresponsive. The family’s alleged claims of medical expertise, if true, make their actions even more questionable from both ethical and legal standpoints.
The Aftermath Reveals Bigger Problems
This bizarre incident exposes potential gaps in airline boarding protocols and raises uncomfortable questions about how far families might go to avoid the complications of international death procedures. Transporting a deceased person across borders involves extensive paperwork, costs, and delays that could motivate desperate decisions by grieving relatives seeking to bring their loved one home.
The passengers affected by this 12-hour ordeal will likely be eligible for substantial EU261 compensation, potentially receiving around €600 each regardless of the circumstances surrounding the medical emergency. The regulation protects travelers from extended delays, even those caused by extraordinary circumstances, though airlines often attempt to avoid payouts by claiming exemptions.
Sources:
Grandmother who died on easyJet flight ‘looked dead’ while boarding, claim passengers
Dead Woman on EasyJet Flight: Málaga Witness Account
