Title: Shocking Incident on a Plane: Family Removed for Allergic Reaction
Subheadings:
1. Anaphylactic Allergy Incident
2. Refusal to Make Announcement
3. Passenger’s Reaction
4. Airline’s Response
5. Resolution and Consequences
A freelance meteorologist for the BBC alleges she and her family were removed from a flight departing London Gatwick en route to Turkey after requesting that passengers stop consuming peanuts due to her daughter’s severe allergy. Georgie Palmer, 49, claims she and her family were escorted off the SunExpress aircraft bound for Dalaman on May 21 after petitioning the crew to make an announcement to all travelers regarding her 12-year-old daughter Rosie’s anaphylactic vulnerability to peanuts, BBC reports.
Taking to social media, Palmer detailed how the SunExpress staff disregarded her pleas to broadcast such a message – prompting her to personally urge her fellow passengers nearby to refrain from eating legumes. SunExpress affirmed its commitment to passenger safety in a statement but cited its policy of refraining from such announcements, as it “cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.”
Anaphylactic Allergy Incident
Palmer had boarded the aircraft accompanied by her spouse Nick Sollom, 48, and daughters Rosie and Annie, 14. She informed the BBC that the family had requested the crew to broadcast a message urging passengers to abstain from peanut consumption due to Rosie’s potential for an anaphylactic reaction.
Refusal to Make Announcement
“Central RecorderExpress captain and cabin crew refused to make the standard announcement on behalf of our daughter,” Palmer recounted on Instagram, per the BBC. “We gently asked the passengers at the front of the plane to share our request. Row by row, all the passengers turned back to kindly ask the row behind to please not eat nuts on the flight.”
Passenger’s Reaction
Palmer insisted she remained “calm” throughout the ordeal, asserting that “nobody working on that plane showed one ounce of compassion.” Anaphylaxis, according to the NHS, can manifest within minutes of exposure to an allergen, such as food, medication, or insect stings, and potentially cause life-threatening swelling of the throat and tongue, obstructing respiration.
Airline’s Response
A SunExpress spokeswoman acknowledged Palmer’s concern regarding her daughter’s severe peanut allergy and request for an announcement but reiterated the airline’s policy against such declarations, citing an inability to guarantee an allergen-free environment or prevent passengers from bringing allergen-containing foods on board.
Resolution and Consequences
Ultimately, the family secured an EasyJet flight to their Turkish vacation destination the following day. The crew repeatedly requested passengers refrain from opening peanut packets, a gesture Palmer said cost them an additional £5,000 in supplementary flights, accommodation, and associated expenses. While major carriers like British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, and Jet2 stipulate they will make such announcements upon request and abstain from serving nuts, the incident has sparked dialogue surrounding airline policies and protections for those with severe food allergies.