A Paralympic athlete has recounted how she was left ‘stranded’ on board an empty Ryanair aircraft at Stansted Airport in London as the flight crew seemingly forgot about her.
Anne Wafula Strike posted on social media how she was forgotten about by staff although she had booked special assistance weeks in advance.
She stated she also had to wait longer for her luggage.
Like @FrankRGardner I was forgotten on @Ryanair last night at @STN_Airport for a long time because I needed assistance that was booked weeks in advance .. then I had to wait for luggage for longer than the flight @SueWillman #airtravel pic.twitter.com/hPW0VXoMCP
— Anne Wafula Strike (@Anne_W_Strike) August 25, 2018
Strike made a reference to Frank Gardener, a disabled BBC reporter who was also left stranded on a flight at Heathrow Airport without assistance. Gardener also posted about his experience on social media.
Since recounting her experience on Twitter, other users have written to her to explain that they were too left without assistance.
This has happened to my wife twice this year at Stansted, Ryanair plane for over an hour at 12.30am eventually being told no lift available Easy jet plane for 45 minutes. Complained to Stansted 3 times heard nothing. May/June of this year My wife has Secondary Progessive MS
— Ned Rutson (@NedRutson) August 27, 2018
The Civil Aviation Authority in the UK recently released a report that demonstrated the focus, attention and relevant support for PRM equipment and services was increasing.
Many airports in the UK were labelled as ‘very good’ in regards to catering for disabled passengers.
Stories such as the ones reported by Strike and Gardener do, however, hamper the state of catering for PRM passengers in the industry and how airlines operate for all of its passengers.
