A pensioner left panicking on an easyJet flight was forced to disembark without special assistance after fearing the crew wouldn’t turn up.
Edward Mochrie, 96, landed in Edinburgh on Saturday, October 7, after visiting his daughter in Munich, but couldn’t embark immediately with other passengers as he required help.
He was left waiting for crews to arrive with a wheelchair to assist him through the airport to his neighbour waiting to take him home.
They didn’t arrive until 40 minutes later, leaving “panicking” Mr Mochrie to find his own way with the assistance of easyJet staff.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, his daughter Ruth slammed the airport, branding the experience “shambolic”.
Ruth said she signed her father up to receive special assistance when he made the solo trip to Edinburgh, stating he “gets confused easily”.
But, after the other passengers aboard his flight disembarked, the specialist crew was yet to arrive, and Mr Mochrie feared he was “going to end up at Dublin” as cabin crews bound for the Irish capital arrived onboard.
With the help of easyJet staff, the 96-year-old retrieved his cabin bag and climbed down the steps before walking on the tarmac to a member of staff waiting below.
He was helped through to terminal and border control before arriving at the pickup point to his “worried neighbour”, and Ruth said the experience has “probably put him off” flying to see her again “for good”.
Her dad was left hungry, tired, and needing the toilet during the experience.
She said: “He has been saying for 10 years that this will be the last time he flies out to see me, but I think after this it actually will be. It has probably put him off for good.
“At Munich, he didn’t need a wheelchair, but they put him in one as it helps them navigate the airport quicker.
“I stood and watched as they took him all the way to security, and then he was helped with the belt, and he got a good service.”
A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport told Edinburgh Live that specialist teams arrived to assist passengers requiring assistance after 40 minutes.
They said: “Our teams assisted passengers to the Border before helping them to the baggage hall.
“We strive to offer the best possible service, and our offering is rated as Very Good, the highest available industry grade. We do regret the passenger was unhappy with the assistance provided in this instance, and we would be happy to speak further with them to find out more.”
