Gatwick Airport apologises to disabled passenger left sitting on plane for over 90 minutes
Victoria Brignell, who is paralysed from the neck down, was pictured sitting alone on an empty plane at the London airport despite reminding staff beforehand that she would be flying.
Monday 6 June 2022 13:22, UK
Gatwick Airport has apologised to a disabled passenger who was left waiting on a plane for over an hour and a half after landing.
Victoria Brignell, who is paralysed from the neck down, was pictured sitting alone on an empty plane at the London airport despite having reminded staff that she would be flying.
Gatwick Airport said her treatment was "unacceptable" and apologised to Ms Brignell.
A spokesperson said the incident has been "escalated" is being investigated "as a matter of urgency".
Ms Brignell told the BBC: "I booked the help three months in advance, I reminded them two weeks ago, and still I didn't get the service that I should expect to have."
Service provider Wilson James said: "We are deeply disappointed to have delivered a poor service on this occasion. While the aviation sector in particular is struggling with well-documented pressures, Ms. Brignell's experience is unacceptable and falls far below our values and aims as a service provider; the Wilson James team extends our sincere apologies to her.
"We will be reaching out to her privately to offer our apologies, and Wilson James and the airport are investigating the incident as a matter of priority."
Former Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson was among those criticising what happened, tweeting to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps that this was the "reality of being a disabled person".