Fox News Flash top headlines for April 30
Fox News Flash top headlines for April 30 are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com
A mother in the U.K. says she’ll never fly Ryanair again after airline staffers allegedly sent her 15-year-old son with severe autism, who was traveling in the company of a caregiver, into a “meltdown” for reportedly insisting that his caregiver pay a hand luggage fee for the teen’s toy doll. The upsetting episode ended with the intervention of the police and a doctor.
The mom went on to praise the airline Jet2 for treating her son with “kindness, dignity and respect” for their assistance in helping rebook her son and his companion onto a new flight without issue, in the wake of the frustrating ordeal.
On April 27, Helen Estella of Doncaster, Yorkshire, England took to Facebook to share her side of the story in a post that has since gone viral with over 80,000 shares and 15,000 comments, Metro reports.
Estella began by detailing that her son, Leo, was preparing to fly from Alicante Airport in Spain to the U.K. that evening, when things quickly took a turn for the worse.
UNITED AIRLINES COVERS CONTROVERSIAL SEATBACK CAMERAS
According to the woman, Leo has the mental capacity of a 3-year-old and became he became distressed "when they wouldn’t let him have his doll and demanded payment for it as hand luggage,” she wrote on Facebook. She said Ryanair staffers “refused to let him fly home.”
According to Metro, employees with the airline insisted his caregiver pay a $32 fee to take the doll on the plane. Estella, meanwhile, said that the Ryanair workers caused a commotion – though Leo’s companion “had not even refused the payment” – but the damage had already been done.
“Police were called and 4/5 of them surrounded [Leo]… they physically touched him without his awareness and his doll which caused his meltdown. Special assistance had been requested as not all disabilities are visible but we were told no by Ryanair because Leo can walk,” Estella lamented. “He had to be then taken to the airport doctor and medicated as he was so distressed.”
The mother continued to claim that Ryanair unloaded the pair’s luggage and “offered them no other way to get home.”
The mother continued to claim that Ryanair unloaded the pair’s luggage and “offered them no other way to get home.” (iStock)
In a moment of “desperation,” Leo’s caregiver went to the Jet2 desk to ask for help — and their response to the situation was “outstanding,” Estella said.
In response, compassionate Jet2 ground staffers named Anna, Mark and Ellie came to Leo’s side as soon as the teen’s companion bought new flight tickets, helping to calm him down in an “amazing” way, Estella elaborated.
The mom went on to thank Jet2 for their employees' support through the difficult moment, and slammed Ryanair for the way the situation transpired.
“Jet2 I cannot thankyou enough for getting my disabled vulnerable boy home .. and treating him with kindness .. dignity and respect,” she wrote online. “Autistic children need extra processing time .. not Spanish Police threatening him with injections!”
In a moment of “desperation,” Leo’s caregiver went to the Jet2 desk to ask for help – and their response to the situation was “outstanding,” Estella said. (iStock)
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS
“I will not be patronizing this airline again,” Estella concluded. “I intend to follow up this incident.”
Reps for Ryanair, meanwhile, offered a different account of events when contacted by Fox News for comment.
“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,)” spokesperson said on April 30 via email.
“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,” the rep continued. “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.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“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,” the Ryanair spokesperson said.
Likewise, reps for Jet2 offered Fox News the following statement on their side of the story:
“I would like to thank our colleagues for assisting Leo and his family, and I am delighted that our assistance and care enabled them to enjoy their journey home,” Phil Ward, managing director of Jet2.com, said. “Our team of dedicated Customer Helpers on the ground, together with our Flight Deck and Cabin Crew, are always on hand to help.”
Fox News Lifestyle
A look at the top-trending stories in food, relationships, great outdoors and more.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.