It sounds as though the airlines did everything they could for her, but there is a physical limit on the size of person they can accept. Sadly, she exceeded it. And then, even though she was ill, she was not willing to accept any medical treatment in Hungary - that was her choice, and it had fatal consequences
If y'all don't fit, y'all don't fit. It sucks, but she really should of sought medical treatment in Hungary. There are American-quality clinics in Budapest.
They could fly her there but couldn't fly her back?
I found that odd as well. She obviously was a similar weight and had similar mobility issues on the way there. How did they manage to accomodate her on the way there, but not on the way back.
I do think that the couple was silly for not getting medical treatment in Hungary. It's not a third world country, and despite her complicated medical history I'm fairly sure that the doctors in Hungary could have probably kept her alive.
I also find it strange that they could fly her there and not back but maybe it has to do with the equipment available at the airport. I have never heard an airline say that the seatback couldn't support the extra-weight only the problem with seat space.
I think its easier to be judgemental about this situation because she had what some people could say "self induced" problems but I thinks its important for airlines and pax with special needs to think about airport accesability at arrival/departure and transfer airports. I have seen pax carried up aircraft stairs in wheelchairs in airports without jetbridges and thought that looked unacceptably dangerous.
I think its easier to be judgemental about this situation because she had what some people could say "self induced" problems but I thinks its important for airlines and pax with special needs to think about airport accesability at arrival/departure and transfer airports. I have seen pax carried up aircraft stairs in wheelchairs in airports without jetbridges and thought that looked unacceptably dangerous.
It actually isn't as dangerous as it looks. When there isn't a jetbridge or a lift (that's when I get to ride the lift with the garbage), it is fairly common to be strapped into an aisle chair and then be carried up or down the aircraft steps. The people who do this are pretty experienced and I've never felt at all unsafe being carried.
Plus I MUCH prefer being carried up or down in an aisle chair to being thrown over someone's shoulder and carried like a sack of potatoes.
I have never heard an airline say that the seatback couldn't support the extra-weight only the problem with seat space.
I have actually had to deal with a similar problem in the past. A passenger weighing ~300kg could not be accommodated on one of our flights due to the seat loading limits (which were in the 250kg range). That passenger was also physically unable to pass through either the aisle of the aircraft or an overwing type III exit, making them a serious liability in the case of an emergency.
We eventually required that the passenger provide a doctor's note confirming that they had sufficient mobility (either with or without assistance of an attendant) to be able to evacuate the aircraft in an emergency. They were unable to provide this.
It would seem that a couple like this might to do better with a private jet service than to chance it on the commercial carriers. I can't blame the airline if they made a good faith effort, but people with disabilities should not be restricted from traveling either, within reason.
It sounds like the airlines did what they could to accommodate them. The fact that a fire crew had to assist in getting her out of the wheel chair and into the seat (and failed after 30 mins of trying) shows that this is an extraordinary circumstance.
I put a lot of this on the passenger and the husband though. First, they knew about the medical condition and need for treatment and chose to travel out of the country. They also chose to stay in a country in which they did not trust the medical care. Finally, they were willing to drive to Prague to try to get on another flight. Instead, they could have driven to Vienna or Munich for medical care.
When there isn't a jetbridge or a lift (that's when I get to ride the lift with the garbage), it is fairly common to be strapped into an aisle chair and then be carried up or down the aircraft steps. The people who do this are pretty experienced and I've never felt at all unsafe being carried.
