Disabled Pensioner Kicked Off EasyJet Flight After Crew Questions Mobility Needs

Barry and Alison Dobner have lodged a complaint with easyJet

A 79-year-old disabled pensioner has claimed he was removed from an easyJet flight moments before takeoff after a crew member overheard a private conversation with his wife regarding his mobility limitations.

Barry Dobner, a resident of Rock Ferry, was scheduled to travel with his wife Alison and their friend Sheila from Manchester to Athens on April 3 for a two-week holiday in Greece. The group had made arrangements for wheelchair-accessible accommodation and transportation, intending to celebrate Barry’s upcoming 80th birthday.

Dobner, who has used a wheelchair since suffering a stroke 18 years ago, said he had notified the airline of his mobility needs at the time of booking. The couple were assisted onto the aircraft and seated in row 11 for the four-hour flight, which was set to depart at 4:40 p.m.

However, according to Dobner, events took an unexpected turn when a flight attendant overheard Alison mention that they had packed a portable urinal bottle in case of an emergency. The crew member asked if Barry could walk to the toilet, and when informed that he could not, the airline allegedly instructed the entire party to leave the aircraft.

“The whole plane was standing up watching what was going on,” said Dobner. “You can imagine how that made me feel.”

Barry Dobner at home in Rock Ferry, Wirral

Alison, 67, expressed her outrage over the incident. “We have flown with easyJet and Ryanair before and have never had anything like this happen,” she said. “What upsets me the most is the way he was spoken to. To treat a disabled person like that was appalling, especially when they had all the information beforehand. The other passengers were sitting there gobsmacked.”

The couple and their friend were forced to return home, missing their holiday and losing approximately £2,000 in expenses for hotels and a pre-paid airport transfer. They have contacted their holiday insurance provider and filed a formal complaint with the airline.

Dobner described the emotional toll the experience had on him. “I've always been a happy-go-lucky chap, but this has knocked me back a bit,” he said. “I feel like just an object. I’m not a person anymore. My self-respect has gone right down. Since I had my stroke, I’ve been in a wheelchair, and I’ve been trying to keep positive. But when someone says that to you, it knocks the stuffing out of you. Your confidence just disappears.”

He emphasized that he had flown six times since his stroke without any issues and that the airline was aware of his condition when they boarded him.

In response to the incident, a representative for easyJet stated: “We are very sorry Mr. and Mrs. Dobner and their companion were unable to fly as planned with easyJet. We are in touch with Mr. Dobner and his party to apologise for this error and to refund them in full for their flight and provide them with denied boarding compensation.

“As an airline, we are committed to making easyJet accessible to everyone. easyJet carries around one million passengers requiring some form of assistance each year, and our research shows that 87% of easyJet passengers who require this are satisfied with the services we provide.”