Canarian Weekly
30-11-2012, 11:30
BRITISH grandmother Janet Kirby was thrown off an easyJet flight for “assaulting” an airline stewardess – without setting foot on the plane.
But the 62-year-old, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, maintained she merely touched her on the shoulder to attract her attention.
Mrs Kirby was on her way back home from Almerķa airport after spending a holiday with her sister, Carol, in Alfaix.
She was stopped at the boarding gates, told her hand luggage would not fit in the overhead lockers and advised it would have to be checked in.
But the grandma said she saw other passengers with even larger bags getting into the cabin, so she tried to attract the attention of the air stewardess, who repeatedly ignored her.
She insisted she touched the stewardess’ arm to try to get her to turn round, and was instantly accused of assault.
According to Mrs Kirby, the flight attendant said: “Do not touch me. You are not flying.”
She then called a manager, who backed up the flight attendant and ordered Janet and Carol off the plane.
They were also told they would not be allowed to fly with the airline the next day, either, then later banned from flying with EasyJet again.
Instead, they were forced to cough up for a Ryanair flight two days later.
EasyJet said the incident was witnessed by police, who supported their decision, describing the situation as a “confrontation with a staff member”.
Janet’s husband, Michael, said: “It is outrageous that two tourists can be left stranded abroad because of the ‘whims of a local official’.”
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/assault-plane-strands-grandma/)
But the 62-year-old, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, maintained she merely touched her on the shoulder to attract her attention.
Mrs Kirby was on her way back home from Almerķa airport after spending a holiday with her sister, Carol, in Alfaix.
She was stopped at the boarding gates, told her hand luggage would not fit in the overhead lockers and advised it would have to be checked in.
But the grandma said she saw other passengers with even larger bags getting into the cabin, so she tried to attract the attention of the air stewardess, who repeatedly ignored her.
She insisted she touched the stewardess’ arm to try to get her to turn round, and was instantly accused of assault.
According to Mrs Kirby, the flight attendant said: “Do not touch me. You are not flying.”
She then called a manager, who backed up the flight attendant and ordered Janet and Carol off the plane.
They were also told they would not be allowed to fly with the airline the next day, either, then later banned from flying with EasyJet again.
Instead, they were forced to cough up for a Ryanair flight two days later.
EasyJet said the incident was witnessed by police, who supported their decision, describing the situation as a “confrontation with a staff member”.
Janet’s husband, Michael, said: “It is outrageous that two tourists can be left stranded abroad because of the ‘whims of a local official’.”
More... (http://www.canarianweekly.com/assault-plane-strands-grandma/)