A doctor says she was forced to let down cancer patients after being kicked off a flight from Dundee to London over concerns it was too heavy.
Judith Hanslip had been due to fly with Loganair from Dundee Airport to London City Airport at 4.40pm on Wednesday.
But she and six others – including another doctor and an emergency nurse – were told they could not board the plane because it was overweight.
‘No argument’ over flight decision
Despite informing Loganair staff she was needed at work the following day, Judith claims she was told there was “no argument”.
She was offered a flight to London from Edinburgh the following morning instead.
The Dundee-born doctor, who runs a clinic for cancer patients at a hospital in Hertfordshire, says she was forced to cancel half her appointments on Thursday as a result of the “heartless” decision.
Judith – who had been visiting family for Christmas – says she was contacted by Loganair about an hour before the flight to ask if she was willing to volunteer to miss the service.
She told The Courier: “I explained I’m a doctor and have a clinic tomorrow and cannot do that.
“The person said, ‘Yes I understand – I can see you’re a doctor’.”
Following the phone call, she checked in and made her way to the departure lounge.
Doctor ‘selected to leave flight’
Judith said: “Then around 5pm, suddenly they announced these seven names and we had to go back to the check-in and the person said, ‘You have been selected to leave the flight’.
“They said it was a final decision from Loganair Glasgow and there was no changing it.”
Judith claimed staff told her she could not swap with another passenger, and she got no answer when she tried to phone the airline’s main office.
She was eventually taken by taxi to Edinburgh and put up in a hotel before flying from Edinburgh to London on Thursday morning – meaning she did not make it to work until after noon.
Judith, who has flown between Dundee and London for 35 years, added: “I will never use that service again.
“I had to cancel 50% of my appointments with cancer patients on Thursday.
“Everyone knows the NHS is on its knees. A lot of people are off sick. People are on leave.
‘It’s just heartless’
“To prevent people from trying to do their work – to thwart people from doing their jobs – it’s just heartless.”
Loganair was forced to apologise earlier this week for a lack of communication with passengers after a flight from London to Dundee was diverted to Aberdeen.
A similar apology was issued after another flight was sent to Edinburgh in October.
A Loganair spokesperson said: “Loganair aircraft must adhere to strict weight limitations on certain routes, which can vary depending on the weather conditions.
Loganair launches internal review
“Wednesday evening’s forecast required Loganair to make last-minute changes to the weight of its aircraft on the Dundee to London flight.
“As part of this process, the airline contacted passengers in advance of departure to offer alternative travel arrangements.
“We understand the inconvenience this causes and do our best to ensure everyone is treated fairly, while also accommodating any priority passengers, such as NHS staff.
“An internal review into this complaint is now underway and it would be inappropriate to comment further until this is complete.”
