London, United Kingdom – A BBC weather presenter, Georgie Palmer, was removed from a SunExpress flight from London Gatwick to Dalaman in Turkey, along with her family, after asking passengers not to eat peanuts due to her daughter’s severe allergy. The incident reportedly happened because the pilot became infuriated by the family’s request.
Palmer took to Instagram to express her frustration with the airline for not making a standard announcement asking passengers to refrain from eating peanuts. The family was eventually asked to leave the flight by the pilot before takeoff, despite the passengers’ willingness to comply with the request not to eat peanuts.
In response to the incident, a spokesman for SunExpress stated that the safety of their passengers is a top priority. They explained that the passenger had raised concerns about a family member’s severe peanut allergy, but the airline refrains from making announcements of this nature. The spokesperson cited the inability to guarantee an allergen-free environment on flights and the potential for other passengers to bring food items containing allergens onboard.
According to Palmer, the family had to book an alternate flight the following day, costing them an additional $6,385. She expressed disappointment in the handling of the situation, stating that no compassion was shown by the airline staff during the ordeal.
Despite the airline’s explanation for asking the family to leave the flight, Palmer’s husband, Nick Sollom, denied acting aggressively. Many individuals have weighed in on the situation on social media, with some supporting the pilot’s decision and others criticizing the airline for its handling of the family’s request.
The incident has sparked a discussion on the treatment of passengers with allergies and the protocols airlines have in place to accommodate such situations. As a result, SunExpress has announced plans to review their booking process to provide more effective solutions for passengers with allergies in the future.