BBC’s Frank Gardner boards plane for fifth time – but airlines deny issue

Frank Gardner’s tweet on Thursday summed up his disappointment: “Not SBB again! Why are British airports constantly trying to disembark people with disabilities?

Gatwick staff assigned to assist disabled passengers did not show up, leaving the BBC security reporter alone in the cabin, who had returned to the Iberia Express after reporting from the NATO summit in Madrid.

Gardner, who uses a wheelchair, said it was “only” 20 minutes this time, but said, “I’ve personally boarded a plane five times in four years, an empty plane long after all the other passengers had waited.” . they were released.

“This is highly discriminatory and major British airlines should be ashamed of the way they have repeatedly treated their disabled passengers with low priority.”

The incident came less than a week after The Mail on Sunday and Paralympic Baroness Tanni Gray-Thompson launched a campaign to end the humiliation that people with disabilities face while traveling.

Gatwick staff assigned to assist disabled passengers did not show up, leaving the BBC security reporter alone in the cabin, who had returned to the Iberia Express after reporting from the NATO summit in Madrid. (above the last photo he tweeted)

Her hopeless post on social media above. Gardner, who uses a wheelchair, said it was “only” 20 minutes this time, but said, “I’ve personally boarded a plane five times in four years, an empty plane long after all the other passengers had waited.” . they were released’

The 11-time gold medal winner revealed that he had to crawl to the bathroom on the plane because no one would help him. After another flight, the airline lost her wheelchair for three months.

The Baroness urged the government and airline leaders to take immediate action and ensure that all disabled passengers are treated with dignity and respect.

And the letters came from MoS readers and reminded them of their own travel nightmares.

Many stories deceive belief. A woman’s disabled daughter had to use the open toilet during the flight because there was no handrail to help her use the toilet alone.

Others missed crucial connecting flights because the special help they needed never arrived.

A 75-year-old man described how airline staff refused to help his disabled wife, who has dementia, get her out of the toilet.

As the stories were shared and commented on thousands of times online, there was a surge in public support, but the responses from airlines and politicians ultimately responsible for ensuring that frustrating, disabled Britons get support were adequate, lukewarm at best. .

We contacted all UK airlines and airports, as well as the ministers of aviation control and government, and asked if Baroness Gray-Thompson would be willing to honor her wishes.

The incident occurred less than a week after The Mail on Sunday and Paralympic Baroness Tanni Gray-Thompson (pictured) launched a campaign to end the insults faced by disabled people while traveling.

Chloe Smith, the government’s minister for disability, said she was “passionate” about the issue, but said it was the Department of Transportation’s responsibility to force the travel industry to make changes.

The Department of Transport, led by Grant Shapps, said it was subordinate to the Civil Aviation Authority.

The Civil Aviation Authority said it would consider “some ideas” proposed by Baroness Gray-Thompson in a new set of guidelines for future airlines, but the regulator has previously said the government should take the initiative to bring about change.

Airlines and airports have also shown little willingness to change. Both London Stansted and Manchester airports said they had largely gotten the problem out of their control, arguing that airlines were responsible for caring for disabled passengers.

Chloe Smith, the government’s minister for disability, said she was “passionate” about the issue, but said it was the Department of Transportation’s responsibility to force the travel industry to make changes. The Department of Transport (above), led by Grant Shapps, said it was subordinate to the Civil Aviation Authority.

But according to easyJet, current regulations do not allow airlines to provide private assistance services directly – these are external contractors employed by airports – so cabin crew cannot assist stranded passengers in the event Frank Gardner and many others discovered at the airport.

British Airways says it’s already “accessible to all”, ignoring the recent incident in which wheelchair-user TV producer Victoria Brignell was stuck in her seat for an hour and a half and was helped out of her seat. Gatwick airport.

The airline also made no commitment to meet Baroness Gray-Thompson’s demands.

Heathrow said it would “not comment” on details but “work closely” with airlines and regulators to make improvements for passengers with disabilities.

Ryanair did not respond to our requests for comment.

Baroness Gray-Thompson told The Mail on Sunday: “People worry about travel. The industry cannot hide and we must act.”

“Our transportation system is failing people with disabilities,” said James Taylor, director of strategy for Scope, a charity for the disabled. “It is time for government, carriers and regulators to stand up and take responsibility. It’s taking too long already.

Reader of the Sunday Post contacted Martin Wilson, who suffers from some form of muscular dystrophy. His wife has difficulty walking after changing two knees and the couple asked for help in disembarking a Jet2 flight from Faro to Manchester airport last month.

“We arrived at 2:20 am but we were on the plane for an hour. There were no wheelchairs so they gave us sticks to help us walk. We finally went through passport control and started our return journey to Merseyside at 05:20 three hours after landing.

Another was Georgia Hart, 25, from Hartlepool, who did not have an accessible toilet on a Jet2 flight from Malta to Newcastle. When she had to go, her mother, Bev, had to help her sit and stand inside so the door wouldn’t close. Bev wrote: “I haven’t seen Georgia cry in a long time, but she’s fed up with it.”

Jet2 said it was “sorry” for the events, but said their bathrooms were no different than anyone else’s, and special care was not their responsibility.

Irene Wilson, 69, from Merseyside, missed her flight from Frankfurt to Lyon earlier this month. She missed her connecting flight because the elevator she was supposed to get off the plane didn’t come.

Data for 2019 shows that 700 disabled people missed flights between 2015 and 2018, either because special assistance did not arrive on time or because the right equipment was not available.

“No disabled passenger should be stranded on an airplane or train because of staff shortages, delays or communication problems,” Taylor said.

“The impact is often humiliating, stressful and frightening and prevents some people with disabilities from traveling.”