Not all roads lead to Rome. At least for. Helen Taylor, of Chester-le-Street, Great Britain. The mother was looking forward to a short stay with her husband David in the Eternal City, but her trip turned into a nightmare when the cabin crew told her she was "unfit to fly". Why, you may ask?
The 56-year-old said she boarded the flight from Newcastle International Airport on Monday, October 2 without any problems, but after returning from a toilet visit, staff became concerned about her condition. "I desperately needed to go to the toilet, so I asked one of the cabin crew, while the passengers were still boarding, if I could go to the toilet," Helen told the British press.
"But when I came out, I started sweating and I felt dizzy," says the still shocked mother. "The flight attendant saw me and asked me if I was okay. I told him that I was perfectly fine, that I had just eaten after not eating anything all day and that I had type 2 diabetes, so my blood sugar was going back up. All I need is to sit down and drink a glass of water, and I'll be fine." "I also explained that I was in the middle of menopause, which also causes sweats. Two minutes later, I was in great shape," the Briton even told the flight attendant, full of confidence.
"We need to give you a medical examination," the flight attendant quickly told her passenger after consulting her superiors. "She asked me my name and my health," Helen recalls. "I have type 2 diabetes and I'm on medication," the <>-year-old repeated. "She asked my husband if it happened often and he replied: once in a while, when she didn't eat every few hours. It's completely normal," he reportedly replied.
But after this brief conversation, the hostess came back with bad news. "We have taken the decision to remove you from the plane, we believe that you represent a risk for this flight," the cabin crew told him, without any further form of trial.
"Because I have diabetes? Do I look sick now? I replied sharply, Helen explains. "Actually, you don't look sick," the flight attendant reportedly assured him.
Chased through the airport
Helen attempted to negotiate with the captain who, according to her, appeared to acknowledge that she looked well enough to fly, but nevertheless supported the cabin crew members' decision that she should get off the aircraft.
Helen and her husband saw themselves getting out of their plane in a matter of moments. But that's not all. The couple said they were "chased around the airport" afterward. The reason? The airport staff wanted to force them to return their "duty-free" purchases to the "duty free" and subject them to interrogation by the border control service. Sheepishly, the couple then had to retrieve their suitcases and take a VTC to return home.
In the aftermath, the devastated couple also had to contact their hotel and their Roman transporter to announce that they would not be coming. Still scarred by this discrimination, the mother of the family fulminates. "I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my entire life," Helen told Chronicle Live.
"I can't believe how we were treated. It was absolutely insane. They can't do that to people," the mother said. Helen, who works as a teacher in the field of health and social services, wonders why no medical or mobility assistance was provided to her when she got off the plane if she was not "fit to fly"...
Read alsoPassengers on a Transavia flight between Sharm el-Sheikh and Paris stranded in Egypt after a problematic take-off
"They made a decision based on unsubstantiated evidence because they were not doctors. They did not provide any medical or mobility assistance when they disembarked from the aircraft, on the tarmac or at the airport. They also didn't provide any help with luggage. And that's when they said I wasn't fit to fly," she criticizes sharply.
"Our insurance company told us they wouldn't give us anything because it was Jet2 that ejected us, so they have to compensate us," she said, after several unsuccessful attempts with JET2 on Monday.
For this couple, accustomed to company, the incomprehension is total. "We often fly with Jet2 for short stays and have booked three for next year. We've never had that problem. "I want to let that be known so that hopefully Jet2 will think twice before putting this through to anyone else," Helen said.
VIDEO. Airline Pilot Sentenced for Being Checked Drunk Before Takeoff
Contacted by Chronicle Live, Jet2 eventually apologised to Helen and her husband confirmed that they would refund the price of her holiday "After consulting with independent medical aviation specialists, our crew has made this decision as the health, wellbeing and safety of our customers is always our top priority. However, after further investigation, we have contacted Ms. Taylor to apologize and reimburse her for her vacation as a gesture of goodwill," JET2 said in a statement.