Vow over naming of plane after tragic edie

The name of a tragic Fife toddler will fly high again after a holiday firm pledged to brand a second aircraft for her.

Edie Murphy’s family were heartbroken to discover the jet called Edie in her honour had been renamed Pearl.

TUI UK has since apologised and announced it intends to name a new Boeing 787-9 after the two-year-old.

Edie, who lived in Kirkcaldy, died in October 2015 after falling ill and suffering convulsions. It later transpired she had a rare form of epilepsy, undetectable until a seizure occurred.

Shortly afterwards, the Fly High Edie campaign was launched by a family friend and went viral, winning a public vote to name a Dreamliner. Edie’s parents Cheryl and Tom, who now live in Leeds, watched as the plane took off on its maiden flight from Manchester Airport two years ago.

Cheryl said: “I was heartbroken when I found out the plane had been renamed. When it was looked into properly by a friend she found out it had been transferred to TUI Belgium and renamed.

“The plane is such a huge part of Edie’s legacy and that being taken away with no warning was really upsetting.

“We know the plane can’t fly forever but we had thought it would be longer than two years.

“We are so happy and grateful that TUI will name another plane Edie.”