Ryanair yesterday defended its decision to remove nine blind and partially-sighted people from a London to Italy flight because it was over its limit for disabled people. In early September the nine passengers were asked to leave the Ryanair flight from Stansted shortly before take-off because there were already three disabled passengers on board.
The airline said it asked the passengers to leave because under safety procedures the number of disabled/mobility impaired passengers is limited to four per flight.
"This limit was originally agreed with the UK's Disability Rights Commission for safety reasons," a spokeswoman said. "It would have been unsafe to allow a total of 12 disabled/reduced mobility passengers to travel on board the flight as we would have been unable to attend to them in the case of an emergency evacuation."
She said the nine, who had travelled from Norwich, did not notify the airline of their disability at the time of booking. "If we had been alerted this would never have happened," she added. However, Katherine Hurst, who organised the Italian trip and is a volunteer with the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind, said that she was aware of Ryanair restrictions and telephoned the company in advance of booking.
"I was told that because the party included helpers and would need no assistance from Ryanair staff, there would be no problem with booking on the internet as normal. I have a phone bill to prove I made that call."
She said that some of the party went on a later flight but four people ended up sleeping on the floor and one woman was so distraught she went home.
"They were publicly humiliated in front of the whole aircraft of passengers, it tarnished the holiday. We have received no compensation from the company and no apology, they haven't even replied to my letter," she said.
Details of the incident emerged in advance of a BBC consumer programme, Watchdog, to be aired tonight. The National Council for the Blind in Ireland said the decision was a major step backwards for the airline.
