Mum sent back to UK on empty easyJet flight after she wasn't allowed off plane
A mum-of-two refused entry at the Spanish border after her flight was diverted has blamed easyJet for an 'unbelievably terrible experience'.
Clavia Dunkley, 39, from Openshaw, had a family holiday to Gibraltar booked from August 21 to 28. Along with her husband and two children - aged 12 and 5 - she flew out with easyJet from Manchester, but ran into trouble when poor weather conditions meant their flight was diverted to Malaga.
On arrival, passengers were taken to a bus to transport them to Gibraltar. But Clavia, who is Jamaican but has lived in the UK since she was a teenager and has a residence permit, was 'shocked' to discover she was not allowed off the plane, reports the MEN.
The diversion to Malaga meant she had to fly straight back to Manchester - as she did not have a British or European passport, or a Schengen visa. She said that caused 'sadness and stress' for her family.
EasyJet bosses said they are required to ensure all passengers have correct documentation. They said they're in in touch with Clavia and will offer her a 'gesture of goodwill'. "I was told I did not have permission to be in Spain," she said. "A bus came to fetch people, but I was not allowed to get off the plane."
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Malaga Airport (Phil Harris)She said she was told her husband and children, who are UK passport holders, could get off the flight, but they refused to leave her. The family had to to return to Manchester on the same flight - and were the only ones on the plane back.
"It was just horrible to watch everyone else walk off and we were left there like we had done something wrong," Clavia added. "I thought I was going straight to Gibraltar and wouldn't have any problems. I was angry at first, but now I'm just frustrated. I did nothing wrong and my family had to suffer as a result."
Clavia says she entered her passport details on easyJet's website before the holiday and was told she was 'clear to fly' to Gibraltar as a holder of a UK residence permit. She said her five-year-old son has a learning disability and sensory issues - and described it as an 'unbelievably terrible experience' for her family.
"My son was terrified. He thought he had done something wrong because everybody else was getting off the plane," she added. "That was the first time flying for him, there will be a problem getting him on a plane again. I felt so bad for my kids. I had to explain to them but there's only so much you can say at that age."
The flights cost the family £1,200, while they have also spent £800 on accommodation, which they have been told cannot be refunded. "It was something we were looking forward to but this has been a horrible experience," she said. "If I had known, I never would have gone there."
An easyJet spokesperson said: "Due to strong winds and low visibility conditions in Gibraltar, EZY2267 from Manchester on 21 August was required to divert to Malaga where we arranged for coaches to transfer passengers onwards to Gibraltar. Like all airlines, easyJet is required by the authorities in all justifications where we operate to ensure that passengers are able to present the necessary documentation on departure and arrival, to be able to travel.
"Unfortunately, as Ms Dunkley wasn’t able to provide this, she was unable to travel onwards from Malaga to Gibraltar and we flew her back to Manchester. We are in contact with Ms. Dunkley to apologise for her experience and offer her a gesture of goodwill."
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