easyJet Flight Delayed 12 Hours After Passenger Confirmed Dead at Malaga Airport

An easyJet flight from Malaga Airport to London Gatwick was severely delayed following a tragic passenger incident. The flight, EZY8070, was held for nearly 12 hours after an 89-year-old British woman was pronounced dead on board. The scheduled 11:15 a.m. departure was aborted as the aircraft began taxiing for takeoff.

This easyJet Malaga flight delay stemmed from a medical emergency. The aircraft returned to the stand where emergency services confirmed the passenger’s death.

Conflicting Accounts of Boarding

The incident sparked controversy among fellow travelers. Passengers reported the elderly woman appeared unwell or even deceased while boarding.

Witnesses claimed the woman was wheeled onto the plane by five family members. These relatives allegedly told airline staff she was merely “tired” or “unwell.”

One passenger reported hearing a relative claim the group was composed of “doctors.”

Airline’s Official Position

easyJet rejected suggestions that a corpse was knowingly boarded. The airline stated the customer presented a fit to fly medical certificate.

They confirmed the passenger showed signs of life when she embarked. The death occurred after boarding, during the taxi-out phase.

Malaga Civil Guard confirmed they were called to the aircraft. They stated the elderly British woman pronounced dead was confirmed deceased on the plane.

Operational and Regulatory Procedures

This Malaga airport passenger incident resulted in a significant 12-hour flight delay. The flight eventually departed late in the evening.

Such events trigger complex passenger medical emergency procedures. Airline crew must follow a strict airline death on board protocol.

According to IATA guidelines, crew must immediately notify the captain. The deceased person is then moved to a discreet location if possible.

In most jurisdictions, only a qualified doctor can officially declare death. The captain must then inform the destination airport authorities.

Repatriation and Financial Context

Speculation arose that the family may have sought to avoid the high cost of repatriation of human remains. The process of transporting a body internationally is complex.

• Repatriation requires registering and certifying the death abroad.
• The deceased must be transported in a specialist casket via cargo plane.
• Costs for body repatriation from Spain to the UK typically range from £3,000 to £6,000.

This financial burden is often covered by travel insurance. Without insurance, the family must bear the full expense.

This tragic event highlights the challenges faced by airlines in managing passenger health and verifying documentation. It is a major story in commercial aviation news and for easyJet operations. The airline offered its condolences and support to the family.