A BBC freelance weather presenter, Georgie Palmer, was removed from a flight from London Gatwick to Turkey after requesting passengers not to eat peanuts due to her daughter’s severe allergy. The incident occurred on May 21 on a SunExpress flight to Dalaman.
Palmer, 49, along with her husband Nick Sollom, 48, and daughters Rosie, 12, and Annie, 14, boarded the flight with the hope that the crew would announce a request to passengers to refrain from consuming peanuts. Their daughter Rosie suffers from a severe peanut allergy that can cause an anaphylactic reaction, which can be life-threatening.
When the crew refused to make the announcement, Palmer took matters into her own hands, politely asking passengers around her to avoid eating peanuts. She posted about the incident on social media, expressing her frustration with the airline’s lack of compassion.
“The SunExpress captain and cabin crew refused to make the standard announcement on behalf of our daughter,” Palmer wrote on Instagram. “We gently asked the passengers at the front of the plane to share our request. Row by row, all the passengers turned back to kindly ask the row behind to please not eat nuts on the flight.”
SunExpress defended their position, stating that they do not make such announcements as they cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment on board. They added that Palmer’s insistence led to a decision to remove the family from the flight for safety reasons. The airline claimed that Palmer’s husband exhibited aggressive behavior and attempted to gain access to the cockpit, which Palmer has vehemently denied.
“It’s simply not true,” Palmer said. “There was no aggressive behavior from us. My husband did not try to get into the cockpit. He only knocked on the door hoping to speak to the pilot again.”
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about airline policies regarding allergies. Palmer criticized the airline industry, urging them to clearly state their policies on nuts and allow passengers to make informed choices about their safety. She highlighted the efforts of restaurants in accommodating allergies and suggested that airlines could learn from their approach.
Following the incident, Palmer and her family took an EasyJet flight to Turkey the next day, where the crew made several announcements asking passengers not to open packets of peanuts on board. However, the family incurred additional costs of £5,000 for booking new flights, an airport hotel, and other expenses.
SunExpress acknowledged the incident was upsetting for the family and stated that they are reviewing the information provided during the booking process. They noted that passengers must notify the airline 48 hours in advance of any special medical care required, which they claim was not done in this case.
Palmer hopes that other passengers on the flight will support her account of events, as she continues to challenge the airline’s response to her request and the subsequent removal from the flight.
Airlines including British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, and Jet2 have policies where, upon request, cabin crew will make announcements to refrain from consuming nuts and will not serve nuts during the flight.
