A MUM on board the same flight as a Brit grandmother who was found dead in her seat has revealed how carers had to hold her head up in front of shocked passengers.
Petra Boddington says many of her fellow travellers had concerns over the 89-year-old’s health when she was visibly slumped over in her seat before boarding.
Some passengers heading to London Gatwick have even claimed she was already dead before boarding due to how she looked lifeless sat in the wheelchair.
One of the most concerned flyers was Brit expat Petra, a wellbeing expert and personal trainer.
She first noticed the “fragile, old lady” in the Malaga airport when she was surrounded by airport staff and two suspected carers who were flying with her.
After eagerly waiting to get on the plane, Petra, who runs Menopause With Petra, took her seat in the middle of the packed jet.
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Within a few minutes, the 89-year-old appeared at the front of the plane and was pushed along the aisle by one member of ground staff.
This allowed many of the passengers to get a look at her as she came past.
Petra told The Sun: “People turned in their seats and went, oh my god, she looks dead.
“She was a fragile, old lady who was curled up and doubled over in a chair in a not very comfortable position.
“Anybody with eyes could see that she was not fit to fly and it wasn’t just me that thought it, it was everybody else that she went past.
“People sat in front of me even said they’d seen the people that were with her holding her head up.
“We all thought that she looked dead.”
The carers flanked behind her as all three took their seats with the elderly Brit placed in a special assistance seat at the end of a row.
Ahead of a scheduled 11.15am departure, the cabin crew went to check on the travellers one final time as the flight began to taxi on the runway.
As they reached the woman they quickly raised fears she was now dead.
The plane halted its journey before it could even begin as emergency crews rushed onboard and checked on her.
She was then pronounced dead while still on the flight.
It remains unclear the exact time she died and if those with her were even aware.
I think it’s disgusting that she was allowed on but ultimately, the poor woman has lost her life
Petra Boddington,
Petra continued: “As soon as the plane turned around and the captain announced there had been a medical emergency, everybody turned to each other and said, ‘well we know why?’
“Then we were all taken off the plane and back at the gates – that’s when everyone started complaining and asked how she was allowed on.”
Many passengers ended up being delayed by almost 12 hours due to the incident.
The flight didn’t end up leaving Spain until 10.47pm local time, finally landing at Gatwick at around midnight.
Petra was one of those left fuming at the fact the woman was even allowed to board in her condition.
She said: “I honestly feel sorry for the woman. She should have never have been allowed on that plane.
“I think it’s disgusting that she was allowed on but ultimately, the poor woman has lost her life.”
When quizzed by the irate passengers about what happened pre-boarding, staff said they were assured by the carers that she was “just tired” and “unwell”.
EasyJet confirmed they had no reason to ban the woman from the flight as she had presented a “fit to fly” medical certificate.
I saw her wheeled onto the plane; someone was holding her head as they went past me!
Tracy-Ann Kitching,
Another passenger, Tracy-Ann Kitching, took to social media to express her outrage.
She wrote on Facebook: “easyJet – you are unbelievable! Why did you let a dead person on our flight?!
“Special assistance [the service for boarding passengers with a disability or reduced mobility] are responsible too; they should have raised the issue.’
“I saw her wheeled onto the plane; someone was holding her head as they went past me!”
Petra is adamant that airport staff should have done more to notice the signs just like the other travellers did.
The co-pilot told passengers he would write a report on the events of the flight using their testimonies.
It is not known what happened to the woman’s body after it was taken off the plane – or to the family members.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Malaga did confirm officers had been called onto the plane because of an elderly British woman.