Wheelchair user left to crawl off Ryanair plane in Sweden
- Published
Adrian Keogh has used a wheelchair since an accident in 2015
A wheelchair user who crawled down metal steps from a plane when no-one could help him disembark has described the incident as "unacceptable".
Adrian Keogh, from Wicklow in Ireland, was told assistance would take an hour after his flight landed at Landvetter Airport in Sweden on Saturday.
Mr Keogh said cabin crew on the Ryanair flight told him he could crawl from the aircraft instead of waiting.
Ryanair has said its crew did not tell him to crawl from the aircraft.
Landvetter airport has apologised.
Mr Keogh, who has a spinal injury following a construction accident, told BBC News NI he was not able to wait for an hour for assistance disembarking the plane as he was in pain after the flight and needed to use the bathroom.
He was travelling with his brother who offered to carry him down the stairs but Mr Keogh declined as he felt that would be too dangerous.
"They were steep, corrugated steel steps," he said.
"If he fell we would have both been hurt so I had to bunny-hop down myself."
Adrian Keogh says he had to "bunny-hop" down the steps
A wheelchair user since 2015, Mr Keogh said air travel could sometimes be frustrating.
"This is not the first time I've been stuck on a plane after everyone else has disembarked," he said.
"It's unacceptable - all I ask for is to be able to travel with dignity."
James Taylor of disability equality charity Scope described the incident as appalling.
"For a long time we've been concerned about disabled people being failed by airlines and airports," he said.
"The impact is often degrading, stressful and anxiety-inducing and stops some disabled people from travelling altogether."
'Several unforeseen events'
Landvetter Airport apologised and said it "deeply regrets" Mr Keogh's experience, blaming "several unforeseen events" for the delay in assistance.
A spokesperson told BBC News NI the long waiting time was "not up to our usual standard of service".
Ryanair said special assistance at the airport was provided by a third-party service provider.
The airline said it was looking into the incident.
Similar issues have been reported at other airports, including by the BBC's security editor Frank Gardner, who was left on a plane at Heathrow Airport.
How do you book (and complain) about airport assistance?
The UK government recommends that passengers request assistance through their airline, tour operator or travel agent at least 48 hours before travel
If a passenger has not pre-notified, assistance will always still be provided but you might have to wait longer to be helped
If things go wrong and you're unhappy, the Civil Aviation Authority recommends you take your complaint directly to the airline or airport
If you remain dissatisfied, you can refer your complaint to an alternative dispute resolution body which provides alternative methods, such as mediation and conciliation, instead of going to court
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- Published20 May 2022
