Easyjet turns away disabled passenger

A DISABLED woman who was made to get off an Easyjet flight from Paris to Nice because she was unaccompanied is considering legal action.

Marie-Patricia Hoarau, who is 39 and from Fréjus in the Var, has been paraplegic since a cycling accident 19 years ago.

She said she travelled regularly and had no problems on her outbound Easyjet flight to Paris but was told by cabin crew on the way back that she could not travel alone.

Another traveller offered to accompany her but crew reportedly refused because the two passengers had not boarded at the same time.

She was taken off the plane and given a free ticket on the next flight. Check-in staff found another passenger willing to accompany her.

Easyjet said in a statement: "The pilot took the decision to take her off the plane because he considered that her presence presented a safety risk."

Ms Hoarau has asked the Halde anti-discrimination body to take up her case and is considering legal action.

"I am still waiting for a personal apology from EasyJet," she told 20 Minutes. "Their boss said he was sorry for my unpleasant experience, but in a press release. I've received no phone call from them."

Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau said he had demanded an explanation from the British low-cost airline, and had asked UK Transport Minister Lord Adonis to investigate further.

Meanwhile, hundreds of disabled people protested in Paris on Saturday for more help from the government, including a basic minimum level of benefit equal to the SMIC minimum wage.

They say the Allocation Adulte Handicapé benefit, at €628 a month, means many disabled people live below the poverty line.

The government has promised to increase the AAH by 25% in the coming months - up to €697 on April 1 and then €712 on September 1.

Photo:Lucamascaro