UPDATE – Ukrainian soldier with amputated leg taken off a Wizz Air plane: Wizz’s response
A Ukrainian veteran with an amputated leg has been forced off a Wizz Air plane in Tel Aviv. The Hungarian airline has indicated that it is aware of the incident and is launching an investigation.
Wizz Air has launched an investigation into why a Ukrainian soldier with an amputated leg was taken off the airline’s plane at Tel Aviv airport, Telex reports. Video footage of the incident was also recorded and started circulating on social media.
Nexta wrote on its Twitter page that the soldier was unable to sit down because of his prosthesis and was told after an hour and a half that he had to get off the plane. The soldier was reportedly in tears asking “how am I going to get home?”
Is this how you treat people whi litterally fight for you?
Seems tha your Hungarian heritage stays true https://t.co/V8Ei1YpIEM
— Ole S. Olsen 🇩🇰🇪🇺🇺🇦 (@Olsen29128170) July 9, 2023
In response to a comment, Wizz Air said that they were aware of the incident and indicated that it was under investigation.
UPDATE – 7.10 PM
“The passenger concerned was not in a fit state to fly and, in accordance with safety regulations, the crew was unfortunately forced to deny boarding,” Wizz Air wrote to Telex after it was reported that a man with a prosthetic limb had to leave the aircraft on the airline’s flight from Tel Aviv to Warsaw.
Wizz Air wrote to the news portal that the passenger was distraught when boarding the aircraft and that “as much as they wanted to help the passenger to get home to his family”, the flight crew “acted with the safety of the other passengers on board in mind and in accordance with the required protocol, in consultation with the airport medical staff and the captain of the aircraft”.
According to the airline’s response, the passenger’s leg prosthesis was not a barrier to travel, “Wizz Air always strives to ensure that passengers with special needs can fly in comfort and safety, in accordance with the rules of the air transport industry.”
UPDATE – Wizz Air’s statement to Daily News Hungary
“We apologise for the upset caused regarding a passenger on our Tel Aviv flight to Warsaw recently.
Safety is our number one priority and it is our crew’s responsibility to ensure that all passengers are fit to fly or are accompanied by someone to support them. If there is any indication that a passenger has a medical condition that might put them at risk while flying, we are obligated to deny boarding. In this instance, it was a difficult but necessary decision taken with the passenger’s safety in mind. He was provided with water and somewhere to sit while waiting for assistance from airport staff.
Thank you for your understanding.”