Woman had to leave plane after tuna allergy dispute

A pregnant woman with a seafood allergy has told how she had to get off a plane after tuna appeared on the menu and a senior cabin crew member said he “wouldn’t be dictated to”.

Abbey Holling was left stranded in Corfu after what she claimed was “rude treatment” by EasyJet staff and a refusal not to listen to her concerns on the flight back to Manchester.

In a video recorded by a fellow passenger, a member of staff was heard speaking over the plane’s PA system, saying: “We are legally entitled to a meal break and I won’t have customers dictate to me what I can or can’t eat.”

EasyJet said it had not been told in advance about Ms Holling’s tuna allergy and apologised.

The airline also said it had reimbursed her “alternative travel expenses”.

Ms Holling, 24, insisted she had told EasyJet about both her seafood and peanut allergies “ages” before Tuesday’s flight.

Tuna contains proteins which can be airborne and a risk to people with allergies, according to Anaphylaxis UK.

She described initially feeling “reassured” when cabin crew greeted her on arrival and said they would not sell tuna baguettes despite having them on the aircraft.

But just as the plane began to taxi on the runway, she said the mood changed.

“The manager announced they would be selling whatever products they wanted,” Ms Holling, from Barnsley, said.

She asked to speak to staff but claimed her concerns were not heeded.

“I realised I had no other choice but to leave the aircraft,” she said.

“If they wouldn’t stop selling these products I couldn’t physically fly because I’d have an allergic reaction up in the air.”

Ms Holling said the pilot then began to turn the aircraft around to allow them to get off.

“He announced it over the speaker saying ‘we are turning this around because two people don’t want to fly with us’ tonight,” she said.

“He didn’t explain why I couldn’t be on the flight and so everyone began booing, swearing, tutting, and making us feel uncomfortable.”

Ms Holling and her mother eventually got back from Corfu on Thursday, two days later than originally planned.

She said the incident had “ruined everything” and she was not yet satisfied with the response from EasyJet.

EasyJet said “safety is our highest priority” and advised customers with allergies to always notify the airline in advance.

“As Ms Holling only notified us of her tuna allergy once on board and subsequently did not travel, we are looking into how this was managed onboard,” the airline.

“We have been in touch with her to apologise and understand more about her experience, and reimburse her alternative travel expenses.”