Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has faced a wave of criticism after a Ukrainian war veteran with a prosthesis was asked to get off a plane before take off at Tel Aviv airport. The Ukrainian veteran, who had a prosthetic leg, had trouble getting into his seat. As a result, one of the flight attendants asked him to leave the aircraft.
Another passenger recorded a video showing the soldier crying and saying, “How am I going to get home?” According to local media, some passengers were informed by the crew that the passenger had been removed due to inappropriate behavior. The aircraft eventually took off to Warsaw without him.
The response on social media was one of anger against the Hungarian airline. One user wrote: “Wizz Air, is this the way you treat people who fight for you?”. The user also made reference to the Hungarian government’s stance on Russia, mentioning, “Seems that your Hungarian heritage stays true.”
The airline eventually reacted to the criticism online and posted on Twitter an apology. “We apologize for the upset caused regarding a passenger on our Tel Aviv flight to Warsaw recently”.
The airline announced that the passenger was distressed when boarding the aircraft and that as much as they wanted to help the passenger get home to his family, the flight crew “acted with the safety of the other passengers on board”. According to Wizz Air, “If there is any indication that a passenger has a medical condition that might put them at risk while flying,” the airline is “obligated to deny boarding”.
