An allergic passenger was taken off the flight because the flight attendants were required to hand out peanuts

A passenger on an American Airlines flight stated that she suffers from a severe allergy to peanuts.

Staff response: "We are required by contract to serve a mixture of peanuts and nuts"

Walla!

Tourism

09/02/2022

Wednesday, 09 February 2022, 17:24 Updated: 17:43

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An American Airlines worker attacked a passenger with a cart and got off the flight (Photo: Facebook)

A passenger suffering from a peanut allergy was dropped off from an American Airlines plane, for a particularly strange reason: According to her, crew members explained that they were "obligated by contract to serve a mixture of peanuts and nuts in first class and business."

Live and Lets Fly reports that the passenger, 26-year-old Sophie Draper, was scheduled to fly from London to New York.

Draper suffers from a severe allergic reaction when exposed to peanuts.

During the flight booking, she searched for how to mark in the online form that she suffers from this allergy, but found no place or option to indicate this.

During the check-in for the flight she mentioned this fact to the ground crew but was told that she should discuss it with the crew at the boarding gate.

At the gate itself, she was told to talk to the air crew on the plane.

When she boarded the plane, she spoke with the flight economist, who claimed to her that they were contractually obligated to serve a mixture of nuts and peanuts, and that posting notices regarding food allergies was "contrary to company policy."

Although Draper flies in economy class, where peanuts are not served, the presence of these nuts in first class and business class poses a real risk to her, due to the presence of allergens in the closed space of the plane.

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To the full article

The stewards were obligated by contract to serve a mixture of peanuts and nuts.

American Airlines (Photo: Reuters)

"He knows how to use your epinephrine syringe, right?"

"American Airlines made me feel that my health and the safety of myself and other passengers with severe food allergies were not important," she later told reporters.

"I have no control over my peanut allergy and the danger it poses to my life if I get into a state of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). Adults and children with severe peanut allergies face many barriers and limitations when it comes to travel and experiences. The least airlines can do is address this health condition. Seriously, by posting appropriate messages and replacing the peanuts with another snack. "

Draper's partner asked crew members what would happen if she went into anaphylactic shock over the Atlantic Ocean.

He said in response, one of the flight attendants looked at Draper and said, "He knows how to use your epinephrine syringe, right?"

As a result of this situation, it was decided to keep the couple away and get them off the plane.

The two boarded a flight of British Airways, where the experience was completely different.

"At this company they stopped serving nuts of all kinds, and even talked to all the passengers who were sitting in my area, to let them know about my allergy," Draper said.

After landing she tweeted to her Twitter account, recounting the incident: "We were kicked out of an American Airlines flight because of my allergy to peanuts (and why it's a dangerous airline for people with food allergies)."

Get a snack with an aperitif on the flight.

A mixture of nuts and peanuts (Photo: ShutterStock)

400 people have to suffer because of one or two people?

A spokesman for the airline responded later, noting that "protecting the health and safety of those who fly with us is our top priority. Our goal is to take care of our customers while they fly. We are sorry to disappoint Ms. Draper and a travel partner. Our staff apologized For their experience. "

The news article notes that in the past it has addressed this issue, claiming that the airlines are in real trouble on this issue.

"I understand the responsibility, and it would not be unreasonable to wonder why 400 people have to suffer because of one or two people. But if we put things in proportion, what is more important? Your enjoyment of a peanut bag or a Thai dish with a spicy peanut sauce - or another person's life As annoying as it is, I'm willing to give up peanuts. On the other hand, I would not want people who bring their own food on the flight to sue the airline for banning peanut-based food. However, it seems that American Airlines could have done a little more in this case, and certainly It should not have been so difficult, apparently. "

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