A fellow passenger who was seated next to the elderly British grandmother on the EasyJet flight where she tragically passed away has provided his account of the incident. Initial reports had indicated that the 89-year-old woman may have already been deceased before boarding the flight to London Gatwick on Friday. Observers noted her appearing frail and hunched over in the waiting area, raising concerns about her well-being during the journey.
The passenger, identified as Tony Coatesworth, a 71-year-old self-employed truck driver returning from a business trip in Malaga, was seated in 25D, with only the aisle separating him from the woman in 25C, according to details shared by Metro. He mentioned that acquaintances of the grandmother’s family had informed him that she was relocating to a care facility closer to her relatives in England.
Describing the unfolding events, Tony recalled seeing the elderly lady in a deteriorating state, accompanied by a young woman and a man in his fifties. During the taxi to the runway, the young woman discreetly alerted the man about a potential issue with the elderly lady. Attempts to rouse her by the flight attendant proved unsuccessful, leading to the decision to return the plane to its parking position.
Following this, the woman was carefully moved to the back of the aircraft where the crew usually sits, and medical professionals boarded the plane once it had stopped. Passengers were then asked to disembark, with Tony commending the professionalism of the EasyJet staff in handling the situation.
Addressing the circulating misinformation suggesting that the woman had been brought on board already deceased, Tony clarified that he had witnessed her breathing, albeit in a frail condition. He emphasized that the claims of her being brought on the plane deceased were entirely false, although he acknowledged her visibly poor state.
Expressing dismay at the misinformation and exaggerated reactions from some individuals on the flight and in the media, Tony remarked on the distress this may have caused the woman’s family. Another passenger, Petra Boddington, described the elderly lady as appearing fragile and unwell, with multiple passengers noting her condition and expressing concerns about her fitness to fly.
In response to the allegations, EasyJet refuted the claims and confirmed that the woman had been cleared to fly with a medical certificate. The airline assured that she had been deemed fit to travel and was under medical supervision during the journey, with her unfortunate passing occurring after boarding. EasyJet extended condolences to the woman’s family and friends, offering support during this difficult time and emphasizing the safety and well-being of passengers and crew as their top priority.