Bulgarian Child Needing Lifesaving Treatment Was not Allowed to Board Aircraft

Austrian Airlines did not allow a sick Bulgarian child and its family to board aircraft on the morning flight on 2nd of November. The family was travelling via Vienna to Germany, where the child was supposed to be accepted for a life-saving medical treatment. The case was first reported by the Bulgarian doctor Radina Denkova, who was on the same flight.

“I'm shocked,” Dr Radina Denkova wrote in the social networks. On the morning flight on 2^nd of November to Vienna, where she had to fly to, there was a family with a child with a severe oncology illness.

The family with the sick child were first in the check-in queue, the child was in a wheelchair. They were issued boarding passes, went through the airplane sleeve and the whole unpleasant event took place on the board of the plane. After the family entered the airplane, the cabin crew kept all the other passengers waiting for over 40 minutes. Doctor Denkova explained that in 40 minutes arguing and shouting began between the family and the cabin crew and eventually the mother, the father and the child came back.

I have no words! I'm upset because of the complete lack of humanity, Dr. Denkova said.

The Head of the Fund for Treatment of Children Abroad, Doctor Marieta Raikova, said that the Fund sent the child for treatment abroad. She said she did not understand why the captain of the flight did not allow the family to fly provided the child had all the necessary documents issued by the children's oncohematology in ISUL hospital confirming the child’s medical condition allows flying. The airline was thoroughly familiarised with all the medical records of the case. There is also an official answer from Austrian Airlines that the child and his family will be issued tickets.

She explained that the day before the flight, the airline requested new documents, with new medical reports and they were all provided along with a medical opinion that the child is able to travel by air.

In a telephone conversation, the head of children's oncohematology at ISUL, Prof. Konstantinov confirmed this information for BNT.

In an official response to a BNT letter, the Austrian Airlines said that they were sorry they could not fly the family from Sofia to Vienna and explained the crew had the duty to ensure safety of the passengers on board. "If the crew on the ground already has the impression that the flight could be critical for a passenger due to their physical or health condition, then they have the duty to refuse the transport in the interest of the passenger. The main priority on board is the safety of our passengers," the statement says.

After they were returned from the plane, the family was taken by a Bulgarian ambulance, organized by the Fund for Treatment of Children Abroad and after a 20-hour trip, arrived at the University Clinic in Aachen, Germany.

For purely humane reasons, BNT decided not to record a TV interview with the parents of the sick child. Most important for them is that their child was admitted for treatment. And the shock from the experience and the long journey to Aachen have remained in in the past.

“We only pray that our son's life will be saved,” the parents said.