Three easyJet passengers left stranded on tarmac in wheelchairs at Belfast International as plane takes off without them

Three easyJet passengers needing airport special assistance were left stranded on the tarmac in wheelchairs at Belfast International as their plane took off without them - and with their luggage on board.

Liz Weir was expecting to travel to Edinburgh to appear at a paid-for arts show, but the flight fiasco means she will miss it leaving her followers disappointed.

Liz from Co Antrim uses wheelchair assistance at all airports to help her manage due to health reasons.

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She said: “I’d got to the airport in plenty of time and was sitting in the airport wheelchair on the tarmac waiting to board the plane.

“My luggage had been checked in and I was looking forward to my show tonight in Midlothian.

“The other passengers were boarded before myself and another passenger who was also using wheelchair assistance. I assumed we’d be next to board but then the door of the plane closed and we were left outside.

“The airport ground staff were standing with us and no one could understand what was going on.

“I was due to appear at a storytelling gig at an arts festival tonight, people paid for tickets to attend, the arts association paid for my flight and I’m not able to be there because easyJet neglected to allow me on board. I couldn’t believe it when the plane took off leaving us stranded.

“I was due on stage at 7pm tonight and I've had a message on Twitter from easyJet to say I am booked onto an 8.40pm flight to Edinburgh and that this situation has been handed to the executive support team to assess what happened.

“But I’ve heard nothing since. The situation is ridiculous and very upsetting. People have been let down in Scotland, goodness knows where my luggage is and I have been left feeling very stressed which is not helpful considering I live with a heart condition."

A spokesperson for easyJet, said: "We are very sorry that flight EZY55 from Belfast to Edinburgh on Friday 21 June departed without three passengers who were being accompanied by the airport’s special assistance provider. We have urgently raised with the provider to understand why this happened.

“We are doing everything possible to assist the passengers, arranging for flights to Glasgow and Edinburgh later this evening to get them to their destination as quickly as possible, and our team looked after them throughout and provided them with refreshment vouchers while they waited for their new flight. We will also be processing the compensation they are due.

“The wellbeing of our customers is our highest priority and we are very sorry for the inconvenience this will have caused.”

Belfast Live has contacted Belfast International Airport for comment.

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