Passenger dies at Gatwick airport after leaving flight

A passenger with restricted mobility has died at Gatwick Airport after leaving an aircraft.

Gatwick said staff were helping to disembark three passengers with restricted mobility at the time, including the man’s partner.

He decided to leave the EasyJet plane rather than wait for staff to return and fell while going up an escalator, an airport spokesman said.

Sussex Police confirmed the 82-year-old man died at 12:50 BST on Wednesday.

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The Gatwick spokesman said the passenger made a short walk to the escalator from the runway to the Skybridge, which takes passengers to the north terminal.

He said EasyJet cabin crew were closest to the man, so provided medical attention before the airport’s medical staff arrived.

An airline spokesman said: “A number of our cabin crew provided medical assistance to a passenger at Gatwick Airport whilst waiting for paramedics to arrive.

“However the passenger sadly later passed away.”

Details are still emerging on exactly how this tragedy occurred at Gatwick but my thoughts are with this poor passenger and his family.

I know all too well the sense of immense frustration as you watch all the other passengers disembark and you are left stranded on an empty plane waiting for ground staff to retrieve your wheelchair and get you off.

This is not the first time a passenger with restricted mobility has taken matters into their own hands.

In August 2017, Justin Levene famously dragged himself across the floor of Luton Airport after staff were unable to retrieve his wheelchair. They had offered to strap him into an airport chair and push him through the terminal but Levene, a fitness enthusiast, declined, saying this compromised his independence.

This incident is now being investigated. However, it raises more questions about the treatment of disabled passengers and those with restricted mobility. Historically their needs do not appear to have been a high priority at many British airports.

Gatwick said a formal investigation was under way.

It said when the aircraft arrived a member of staff was deployed from Wilson James, a company which provides assistance for passengers with restricted mobility (PRM).

The staff member “was in the process of disembarking the three PRM passengers when the incident occurred,” it said.

“Staff shortages were not a factor in this incident.

“It is normal for one staff member to disembark three passengers who require assistance by taking them one at a time the short distance to the waiting buggy.”

Wilson James said the passenger was not left waiting to disembark.

In a statement the company said: “The agent was at the gate within one minute of the aircraft parking on its stand, and the incident itself only happened 10 minutes after the aircraft landed.

“The agent who handled the passenger is very experienced, has been working in this service for a number of years and has a background working with people with complex disabilities and needs in the care sector.” (Text, excluding headline: BBC)