Adrian Keogh/Supplied
Adrian Keogh had to exit the plane by crawling down the metal steps.
A disabled man from Ireland says he was left stressed and humiliated after he had to crawl down metal steps from a plane as there was no assistance to greet him.
Adrian Keogh, from Wicklow, had just landed on a Ryanair flight at Landvetter Airport in Sweden.
But on arrival the 37-year-old, who has been using a wheelchair after a spinal injury from a construction accident, was told he would have to wait an hour on the plane. That was despite paying extra to have special assistance when the flight landed.
Keogh said that was unacceptable as he was in pain from the flight, and he needed the toilet. He told Stuff Travel that he was stunned at what he was being told.
STUFF
Three wheelchair-users Olivia Shivas, Rebecca Dubber and Grace Stratton fly from Auckland to Dunedin to show what it’s like travelling with a disability (video published in August 2021).
”I couldn’t believe what they were saying at having to stay on the plane for at least an hour,” said Keogh. “I was stressed and if I had to stay on any longer I would have had a panic attack.”
He was travelling with his brother who offered to carry him, but he refused as he felt it was too dangerous.
Keogh said he was in some discomfort in his “lower back and hip, and shoulder” while tackling the steps.
In his Instagram post he said both the airport and airline blamed each other.
Adrian Keogh/Supplied
Adrian Keogh hopes his plight will ignite some change.
In response, authorities at Landvetter posted: “Dear Sir, we are sorry for your experience. Due to some delays last night, there were more planes landing around the same time as your flight.
“With several booked assistants requirements, including yours, and an (sic) medical emergency simultaneously, caused a pushed forward. Your assistance service was not forgotten but delayed.”
Ryanair said it was looking into the incident.
However, Keogh told Stuff Travel he has not received a phone call either from the airline or the airport to apologise.
His Instagram post has generated headlines from media outlets like the BBC and the Daily Mail and he hopes his plight will ignite some change.
“(The response) has been amazing to say the least. This was not for my profile, it was to highlight what people with disabilities have to deal with on a daily basis.”
