RYANAIR: The 15-year-old autistic boy “was nervous” and his carer “took the decision not to travel”

AIRLINE DENIES CLAIMS: "These two passengers did not arrive at the boarding gate". Photo: Shutterstock and Helena Estrella

THE BUDGET airline denies claims a young autistic teenager was denied boarding and ordered to pay extra to carry a doll on board.

Helena Estrella, mother of a 15-year-old Leo, shared her son’s experience with Ryanair at Alicante airport in Spain after the airline “refused to let him on the flight” and “wanted to charge to take his doll on board”.

She continued to explain how the situation caused her son to have a “meltdown” after Ryanair had called the police and four or five officers had surrounded him.

“Special assistance had been requested as not all disabilities are visible but we were told no by Ryanair because Leo can walk”.

The airline said in a statement to the Euro Weekly News:

“This teenage passenger and his carer were provided with special assistance by Alicante airport after checking in. (All such assistance in Alicante is provided by the Airport Authority).

At passport control, the teenager became agitated and aggressive towards his carer and the carer took the decision not to travel. The passengers were then taken to the airport medical assistance team where the upset passenger received sedation. 

As these two passengers never arrived at the Ryanair Boarding gate, their luggage was offloaded at the request of Alicante passport control staff, who advised Ryanair’s gate agents that they had decided not to travel. 

These two passengers did not arrive at the boarding gate, and therefore, they were not “denied boarding” and neither were they “charged for any hand luggage.”

Ryanair allegedly refuse to let autistic boy fly home and demand payment to take his doll on board at Alicante airport

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