Disability Rights: Author Abandoned on Plane Tarmac, Sending a Shocking Message about Accessibility
Liz Weir, an author who uses a wheelchair, was left on the tarmac as her plane took off without her. She had arrived at the airport early for a short flight from Belfast to Edinburgh with easyJet, but despite her efforts to get the pilots’ attention, the plane taxied away and departed without them.
Weir, who is from Northern Ireland, explained to the BBC that she was hoping for compensation due to lost earnings and appointments, as well as the damage to her reputation from missing the event. She emphasized the importance of better treatment for individuals with mobility issues.
After missing the initial flight, Weir had to wait for a flight eight hours later and did not arrive in Edinburgh until late at night. However, she was able to retrieve her suitcase that had taken off on the earlier flight upon arrival in Edinburgh.
A spokesperson for Belfast International Airport stated that it was the airline’s responsibility to comment on the situation. EasyJet did not respond immediately to Business Insider’s request for a comment. In a statement shared with The Washington Post, the airline apologized for the incident and promised to provide compensation for disruption caused by their misunderstanding by ground handling team and crew.
