Baggage staff destroyed £2,000 wheelchair

RYANAIR baggage handlers shoved a disabled man’s £2,000 custom-built wheelchair into the hold so forcefully that they destroyed it – and made a hole in the plane at the same time.

The incident happened as Andy Latham, 52, who is paralysed after suffering a brain haemorrhage two years ago, was travelling from Birmingham airport to Alicante with his wife Kerry, 41, and son Alfie, six, in July.

Mrs Latham said they were on the plane awaiting take-off when her name was called and she was taken down to the hold and shown the broken wheelchair.

‘I was in shock,’ she added. ‘Andy depends on the wheelchair, so of course I was very upset to see it in pieces.’

Passengers had to disembark and board a replacement plane later. Mr Latham borrowed a wheelchair while at Birmingham airport and had to hire one in Spain.

Mrs Latham said he has ordered and paid for a new one, but has been told it could be more than three months before it is built. She claims she has had no contact from Ryanair about compensation for the chair.

Ryanair apologised, saying: ‘We regret any inconvenience caused by our handling agents (Swissport). Our customer service team is liaising with this customer.’

Swissport also apologised, saying ‘appropriate action is being taken’ against the staff member responsible.