What should have been a routine easyJet departure from Malaga, Spain, to London Gatwick, United Kingdom, turned into a deeply unsettling episode that left passengers questioning how events were allowed to unfold.
As boarding progressed, several travellers noticed an elderly woman—later confirmed to be 89 years old—being wheeled onto the aircraft by family members. According to witnesses, her condition immediately raised concern. Some passengers say she appeared completely lifeless, with one person allegedly supporting her head as she was moved down the aisle. Family members reportedly told airline staff that the woman was unwell and sleeping.
Those assurances did little to calm fellow passengers
One traveller, Tracy-Ann Kitching, later voiced her disbelief on social media, asking bluntly: “Why did you let a dead person on our flight?” She claimed she had seen the woman being brought on board and felt something was seriously wrong from the outset.
The situation escalated shortly before departure, when cabin crew became aware of the concerns circulating onboard. The aircraft did not take off. Instead, it returned to the terminal, where emergency services were called. Authorities on the ground subsequently confirmed that the woman had died.
In a statement, easyJet said the passenger had presented a valid “fit-to-fly” medical certificate and was alive at the time of boarding. The airline stressed that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain its top priority.
However, multiple passenger accounts contradict that version of events, suggesting the woman showed no signs of life from the moment she entered the aircraft. Belgian media outlet Het Laatste Nieuws reports that several passengers were “at a loss for words” over what they witnessed, further fuelling questions about pre-boarding checks and medical assessments.
The incident caused a delay of nearly 12 hours for the flight, but more importantly, it has left lingering uncertainty about what exactly happened in those crucial moments before departure. How was the passenger assessed? When did her condition change—or was it already too late?
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under review.
According to available flight data, the aircraft involved is believed to be an Airbus A319, registration G-EZFI, operating the Málaga (AGP) to London Gatwick (LGW) service on 18 December 2025. The flight eventually departed more than 11 hours behind schedule and landed at Gatwick around midnight.
Sources: The Sun, LBC News, Het Laatste Nieuws
[…] has denied allegations that an 89-year-old British woman who died on a flight from Málaga to London Gatwick was already deceased before boarding. The airline insists the passenger was alive when she boarded […]
Comments are closed.