site.btaTransport and Communications Minister Issues Position on Ryanair Passengers Controversy

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Communications Minister Grozdan Karadjov issues a position regarding a case of a Bulgarian family with a 9-year-old child with reduced mobility who was removed from a plane because of the battery in his wheelchair.

Ryanair's attempt to shift the blame onto the ground operator is unacceptable, Karadjov said.

Minister Karadjov listed several questions that, in his opinion, the airline owes answers to.

"Has the airline launched an internal investigation into the specific incident? Why was safety not compromised on two previous flights on July 24 with the same airline and the same assistive device, but now the opposite is being claimed? Is there a documented procedure on the part of Ryanair for boarding wheelchairs, or is the pilot's subjective judgment sufficient? Why was the mobility aid accepted by the ground operator as suitable for boarding the aircraft but not allowed on board? Who determines the criteria for an “aggressive passenger” in Ryanair's practice? In a previous case at Sofia Airport, a crying woman was classified as aggressive, what criteria were applied then? And in other similar situations? What specific actions and measures were taken by Ryanair before the passengers were removed? According to Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2006 concerning the rights of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility when traveling by air, removing passengers from the aircraft is a last resort measure that can only be taken after all reasonable alternatives have been exhausted. The air carrier or its representative is required by regulation to make all reasonable efforts and offer an alternative option to the family," said Minister Grozdan Karadjov in his position.

He explained that the airline's responses must be documented, and the competent Bulgarian authorities will decide on the fault in this case.

The Minister also recalled that an immediate investigation has been ordered by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation Administration, which is already underway. Based on the information gathered so far, he said that he will refer the case to the Commission for Protection against Discrimination.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications remains firmly committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all passengers and to removing any unjustified barriers to the mobility of persons with disabilities, the statement added.

The airline also released its statement on the incident, explaining that the passengers in question had booked a flight from Sofia to Milan Bergamo (August 8) with a wheelchair powered by a gel battery. For safety reasons, gel batteries in wheelchairs must be isolated in order for the wheelchair to be accepted for air transport. “As the ground staff at Sofia Airport responsible for loading the wheelchair onto the aircraft were unable to determine whether the battery was isolated, they were unable to load the wheelchair onto the aircraft. When the passengers were informed that the ground staff at Sofia Airport could not load the wheelchair, they became aggressive on the plane and were removed by the local police," the airline said in its statement.