Anish Vij
A woman who has type 2 diabetes claims she was ejected from a Jet2 flight to Rome after flight attendants saw her 'sweating'.
Helen Taylor, from Chester-le-Street in Durham, claims that cabin crew told her she was unfit to fly from Newcastle International Airport last Monday, (2 October).
Not long after the 56-year-old boarded the flight with husband David, staff apparently raised their concerns when she returned from the toilet 'a little bit dizzy'.
"I was desperate for the toilet so I asked one of the cabin crew while people were still boarding whether I could possibly go to the loo," Helen explained.
"She said, 'Yes no problem.' But when I came out I started to sweat and went a little bit dizzy.
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"The air stewardess saw and asked, 'Are you alright?' and I said, 'I am perfectly fine, I had just eaten after not eating all day and I have type 2 diabetes, so it is just my blood sugars revelling.
'All I need is to sit down and have a drink of water and I will be perfectly fine.'
"I also explained I was going through the menopause which makes you sweat as well. Two minutes later, I was right as rain."
She continued: "But then she came back and said, 'We have to do a medical with you.' She asked my name and what my condition was.
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"I said, 'I have diabetes type 2 and I take [medication] for it.' She asked my husband if it happens often and he said, 'From time to time when she hasn't eaten every few hours. It is perfectly normal.'
"But she came back again 10 minutes later and said, 'We've made a decision that you are going to have to leave the aircraft, we think you are a flight risk.'
"I said,' What for having diabetes? Do I look ill now?' and she said, 'Well actually you don't'."
After meeting the pilot, who she claims said she looked fine, Helen claims she and her husband were 'frogmarched through the airport' and made to return their duty-free purchases, all while being questioned by Border Control.
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The couple then had to collect their suitcases and arrange an Uber home, she says.
They contacted their hotel and arranged transport to tell them that they would not be able to make it.
"They were making a decision on unsubstantiated evidence because they were not doctors," Helen said.
"They didn't provide any medical or mobility assistance getting off the plane, on the tarmac, or going through the airport. Or any assistance with the bags. And this is when they said I am unfit to fly."
A Jet2 spokesperson told LADbible: "After liaising with independent medical aviation specialists, our highly-trained crew took this decision as the health, well-being and safety of our customers is always our first priority."