EasyJet apologises after three special assistance passengers left on runway at Belfast International Airport

Liz Weir MBE (73), from Cushendall, was supposed to be the guest speaker at a literary event in Edinburgh on Friday evening.

But despite arriving early for the 1pm flight that morning to ensure she could avail of the special assistance service, checking in on-time and getting to the gate early – the pensioner was abandoned on the tarmac causing her to miss the event.

EasyJet has apologised for what happened and launched an investigation to determine exactly what happened.

"A lady in a high viz jacket came and took me and another wheelchair user down to the runway as passengers began boarding at the gate,” Ms Weir explained to the Belfast Telegraph.

"We waited for everyone to get on and thought it was our turn next, but then the steps were taken away from the plane and they closed the doors.

"We were sitting there waving and screaming to the pilot.

"But he shook his head to say no and just kept moving off with my suitcase in the hold.

"All the able-bodied people were on board and we were left behind, what else could you call it other than discrimination?”

Ms Weir, who has performed in prisons and hospital rooms throughout the Troubles and across the world, was left visibly upset by the “shocking” incident and spent much of the day in tears.

"I was a basket case,” she added.

"I’m in my seventies, I have a heart condition and I do not need the stress – and trust me, when you see your plane reversing without you on it, it is very stressful.

"A bus might go by you at the bus-stop, but you don’t expect a plane to go without you when you are scanned in and waiting at the gate.

"I thought a plane leaving with the luggage of a passenger who was not on-board was a major security risk.”

The author is also annoyed that paying ticketholders who expected to hear Irish tales of magic and enchantment at the Penicuik Community Arts Association have been left disappointed.

“People paid money to come and see me and I’m not even there,” she said.

"My daughter has pointed out ‘you’re not Taylor Swift’, but that’s not the point.

"Thankfully I’m a storyteller and have been able to convey to them what happened.”

Ms Weir’s post on social media has attracted hundreds of comments from users expressing shock and disgust.

“But the airport staff, including the duty manager, have been lovely and very apologetic – they are mortified and have promised a full investigation,” the former librarian stressed.

“I can’t blame easyJet for the actions of one person, but I do expect to be compensated for the inconvenience, stress and loss of earnings.

“I’d love to speak to the pilot who looked down and saw two people in wheelchairs and a woman in a high viz jacket waving and screaming, but decided to just to fly off and leave them.”

The disillusioned passenger was booked onto a flight which departed at 8pm on Friday which will allow her to fulfil her weekend plans and attend a separate event in Glasgow on Monday.

"I have friends who are picking me up, but I’ll have to find my bag when I get into the airport so I’ve told them not to rush,” Ms Weir said.

"Who knows how long I’ll be there for?”

An easyJet spokesperson told this newspaper “we are very sorry” that the flight departed without three passengers who were being accompanied by the airport’s special assistance provider.

"We have urgently raised with the provider and our ground handling team to understand why this happened,” a spokesperson for the low cost airline added.

“We are doing everything possible to assist the passengers, arranging for flights to Glasgow and Edinburgh later this evening [Friday] 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 International Airport has been contacted for comment.