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BBC presenter furious after family was kicked of a flight due to her daughter's peanut allergy

News - May 29, 2024
BBC presenter furious after family was kicked of a flight due to her daughter's peanut allergy

BBC weather presenter Georgie Palmer and her family were recently removed from a flight by an angry captain after she asked passengers not to eat peanuts due to her daughter's allergy.

This incident sparked heated debate on social media, raising concerns about the treatment of passengers with allergies on a flight.

BBC weather presenter Georgie Palmer and family removed from flight due to daughter's peanut allergy request. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer
BBC weather presenter Georgie Palmer and family removed from flight due to daughter's peanut allergy request. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer

BBC presenter furious after her family was ejected from flight due to her daughter's peanut allergy

According to reports, the incident happened during their journey on a SunExpress flight from London Gatwick to Dalaman, Turkey.

The family's request for passengers to refrain from eating peanuts on the flight led to a confrontation with the captain, resulting in their removal from the aircraft.

The incident occurred on a SunExpress flight from London Gatwick to Dalaman, Turkey. Image Credit: Getty
The incident occurred on a SunExpress flight from London Gatwick to Dalaman, Turkey. Image Credit: Getty

Georgie Palmer, along with her husband Nick Sollom and their daughters Rosie and Annie, approached the flight crew to request an announcement regarding her daughter's severe peanut allergy.

However, the crew declined the request, citing an updated policy. 

Georgie's daughter was allergic to peanuts, so she asked the other passengers not to eat peanuts. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer
Georgie's daughter was allergic to peanuts, so she asked the other passengers not to eat peanuts. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer

An angry captain was furious over Georgie's request.

Georgie politely asked the passengers near her to avoid consuming peanuts and to pass on the message. Despite the willingness of passengers, this action seemed to anger the captain.

Georgie described the captain as a short-tempered individual who became extremely angry when he found out about her conversation with fellow passengers. 

Georgie described the captain as furious, confronting them and demanding their removal from the aircraft. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer
Georgie described the captain as furious, confronting them and demanding their removal from the aircraft. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer

He loudly confronted Georgie from the cockpit and insisted that her family leave the aircraft. 

This incident deeply embarrassed and made Georgie and her family feel unfairly treated. 

Georgie and her family had spent a lot of time educating others about their daughter's allergy. They worked hard to make people understand the importance of carrying epinephrine pens in case of emergencies. 

BBC presenter expressed her disappointment with the lack of compassion displayed by the airline staff, contrasting it with the kindness and understanding exhibited by fellow passengers.

They educated about the daughter's allergy and emphasized the necessity of carrying epinephrine pens to the other passengers. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer
They educated about the daughter's allergy and emphasized the necessity of carrying epinephrine pens to the other passengers. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer

She emphasized the potential dangers of even indirect exposure to peanuts, highlighting the life-threatening nature of severe allergies.

After the incident, Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, co-founder of a UK food allergy charity, called for airlines to reassess their approach to food-allergic passengers, making their policies transparent and accommodating.

Nadim Ednan-Laperouse called for airlines to improve policies, be transparent, and accommodating towards food-allergic passengers. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer
Nadim Ednan-Laperouse called for airlines to improve policies, be transparent, and accommodating towards food-allergic passengers. Image Credit: Georgie Palmer

Unfortunately, the challenges for Georgie and her family did not stop there.

They had to make new travel plans, which cost them an extra $6,374. Despite this setback, they were able to reach their desired vacation spot the next day. 

They successfully boarded an EasyJet flight where the crew was helpful and made announcements requesting passengers to avoid opening peanut packets, accommodating their daughter's allergy.

They reached their destination the next day on an EasyJet flight, which accommodated their daughter's allergy. Image Credit: Getty
They reached their destination the next day on an EasyJet flight, which accommodated their daughter's allergy. Image Credit: Getty