Ryanair fined for leaving disabled passenger on tarmac

Ryanair says it will appeal against a £1,750 court fine imposed after it left a wheelchair-bound passenger on the tarmac at Luton Airport.

The passenger, 57-year-old Jo Heath who suffers from multiple sclerosis, had to be carried by her husband onto the flight to Brest Brittany after the special 'ambulift' service they had booked through Ryanair failed to turn up.

A Northampton County Court judge yesterday ruled the airline had been in breach of contract and had discriminated against Mrs Heath because of her disability.

In his judgement, district Judge Mchale slammed the airline after he heard that several members of Ryanair's staff, including the pilot of the plane, said that it was their policy to leave disabled passengers behind if they could not be boarded in time for their flight

The judge said it was wrong that the Heaths had been forced to pay extra for the special services and had to book them via a premium phone line, although Ryanair has discontinued this practice for disabled passengers.

Ryanair said it will appeal the decision, claiming that under EU law airports, not airlines, are responsible for the provision of special assistance to passengers.

With permission from Travelmole