Skift Take
British Airways will take heat for forcing the man to sail home, but the situation brings light to a uncomfortable reality that, as man expands and airline seats shrink, is bound to happen again.
Kevin Chenais is set to take a boat home to Europe with his family after British Airways cited health and safety concerns for refusing to let him board at Chicago’s O’Hare airport.
British Airways (BA) has refused to allow a 22-year-old man to fly with them because of his size, according to US broadcaster ABC.
The French man, who weighs 35 stone (226kg or 490lb), and his family are currently stranded in Chicago after the airline prevented him from getting on the plane.
“I can’t go on the plane, then what happens now?” Kevin Chenais said.
Chenais said he bought a round-trip ticket with BA two years ago. ABC reported that he flew to the US to receive treatment for a metabolism condition and was scheduled to return home last week.
BA refused to allow him on the plane because of health and safety requirements.
“We will always try to accommodate someone if it’s possible and safe to do, unfortunately, it is not possible to safely accommodate the customer on any of our aircraft and the family has been offered a full refund,” BA said in a statement.
His family said they plan to take the train to New York and from there sail back to France .
Source: ITN
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Tags: british airways, safety