A BBC weather presenter, her husband, and their two daughters were asked to deboard a Turkey-bound plane after she requested fellow passengers not to eat peanuts due to her daughter’s severe allergy. The incident occurred on May 21 during a SunExpress flight from London Gatwick Airport to Dalaman, Turkey.
Georgie Palmer informed the crew about her 12-year-old daughter Rosie’s anaphylactic allergy to peanuts. However, the crew declined to make an announcement, citing an updated allergy policy. Palmer then took it upon herself to inform passengers, who she said were cooperative and agreed to pass on the message.
Despite the passengers’ cooperation, the captain became enraged, reportedly screaming from the cockpit and insisting the family deboard before takeoff. “How we were treated was disgusting,” Palmer told the Daily Mail. She expressed frustration that, despite passengers’ understanding, the crew showed no compassion.
Airline’s statement
In an Instagram post, Palmer criticized SunExpress for lacking understanding and compassion. The airline responded, emphasizing the importance of passenger well-being and promising to investigate the incident thoroughly.
The family eventually flew to Turkey on an EasyJet flight, where the crew made several announcements requesting passengers not to eat peanuts. This incident highlights ongoing issues faced by passengers with severe allergies when traveling.
Not an isolated case
This incident is not the first where a passenger has been deboarded due to a peanut allergy, underscoring the challenges airlines face in accommodating passengers with severe allergies.
