Family 'disgusted' amid claims wheelchair user was removed from Ryanair flight and humiliated
24.08.2022 - 08:55
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A family have blasted staff at Manchester Airport and Ryanair amid claims a wheelchair user was removed from a flight and blamed for holding up other passengers.
Danielle Snowball, 27, was flying to Mallorca along with her brother Gary Scholes, 40, and other members of their family for a long awaited trip abroad when she says the humiliating experience happened. The family had arranged special assistance for Gary, who requires the use of a wheelchair, when they booked their flight with Ryanair weeks ago, and said they had never had any issues before.
But Danielle claims when they arrived at the departure gate at Manchester Airport on Saturday (August 20), Gary was told by staff they didn't have an aisle seat and would be "unboarding" him from the flight.
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Whilst Gary and his devastated fiancé were delivered the news, Danielle claims she and other family members onboard heard the captain tell holidaymakers they'd been delayed due to a passenger arriving late at the gate - something she alleges is a lie.
Danielle claims the family, from West Yorkshire, later discovered he wasn't able to board because wheelchair assistance arrived after the gate had closed. The family say they were forced to pay another £850 to book Gary and his partner on to the next available flight, and that the whole experienced has left them 'disgusted.'
Speaking to the M.E.N, Danielle said: "When we booked on my brother you can log that they require special assistance. We booked this weeks ago so they will have had lots of notice.
"We got to the boarding queue and Gary and his fiancé were waiting at the desk. When we got on the flight they hadn’t been let on