Gatwick Airport has denied that staff shortages were to blame for the death of a disabled man who fell down an escalator at the airport.
The man was waiting for special assistance to help him disembark from an easyJet flight but left the plane and was trying to make his way through the busy North Terminal when he died. A source told the Sun that the man and his wife both needed special assistance to get off the plane, saying: “While on the escalator the passenger fell down and suffered serious injuries as a result and died.
“Someone should have been helping him. There’s been a real issue with staffing problems and some disabled people have had to wait for hours for help.”
However, a Gatwick Airport spokesperson said that staff shortages played no role in the incident, saying: “This is a sad and tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the family of the deceased. A member of Wilson James staff was waiting when the aircraft arrived and was in the process of disembarking the three PRM [passenger with reduced mobility] passengers when the incident occurred.
“Staff shortages were not a factor in this incident as has been claimed. It is normal for one staff member to disembark three passengers who require assistance by taking them one at a time the short distance to the waiting buggy. A formal investigation is currently under way and it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
Gatwick is among a number of airports to have suffered chaotic scenes in recent weeks because of staffing issues. Many flights were cancelled over the long Bank Holiday weekend, with people stranded and having to cancel holidays as they faced major delays.
EasyJet told the Sun: “A number of our cabin crew provided medical assistance to a passenger at Gatwick whilst waiting for paramedics, however the passenger sadly passed away. Our thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time.”
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.