PA38
20th Jan 2004, 01:23
From Granada TV.
A group of deaf people from Liverpool are planning to take legal action against budget airline Easyjet after they were ordered off a flight minutes before take-off.
The Captain says he was concerned about safety.
Easyjet has apologised to the group from the Merseyside Society for the deaf after they were forced off a packed passenger plane when the captain refused to take them to Amsterdam.
They say he misunderstood safety regulations and thought they needed to be accompanied by a carer - similar to passengers with special needs.
As none of his crew could sign he was worried what would happen in an emergency - not realising they were able bodied and wouldn't need assistance.
In a statement they say:
'This was an error on the part of the Captain, as Easyjet do accept a registered deaf person unaccompanied, as an individual or in a group. '
Easyjet have apologised and offered free flights - but the group say it doesn't go far enough and want compensation
How can anyone defend this......
A group of deaf people from Liverpool are planning to take legal action against budget airline Easyjet after they were ordered off a flight minutes before take-off.
The Captain says he was concerned about safety.
Easyjet has apologised to the group from the Merseyside Society for the deaf after they were forced off a packed passenger plane when the captain refused to take them to Amsterdam.
They say he misunderstood safety regulations and thought they needed to be accompanied by a carer - similar to passengers with special needs.
As none of his crew could sign he was worried what would happen in an emergency - not realising they were able bodied and wouldn't need assistance.
In a statement they say:
'This was an error on the part of the Captain, as Easyjet do accept a registered deaf person unaccompanied, as an individual or in a group. '
Easyjet have apologised and offered free flights - but the group say it doesn't go far enough and want compensation
How can anyone defend this......