Johannesburg - When Sonja Neimann bought her mentally handicapped brother a flight ticket, she didn’t think she’d be worrying about his safety when his flight lands at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday.
However, the day before Christo Swart, 49, was due to depart from George, Neimann was at her wits’ end because of the airline’s policy, which meant that he couldn’t be escorted from the plane to the luggage carousel where she’d be waiting for him.
Neimann said when she bought the Mango airline ticket, she specified that he was mentally disabled and so he’d need assistance when disembarking.
She explained that he had the mental capacity of a child and would, therefore, not be able to read the signs and make his way through the airport.
When she was told she could buy the tickets and pre-arrange with the airline for assistance, she made the booking.
But when she called Mango, she got a different story.
“They told me they can only help the elderly and unaccompanied minors. I asked but if they can help a child, why can’t they help my brother, and they said it’s not in their policy.
“All I need is for someone to escort him to the luggage carousel. Other airlines do this… I’m panicking right now because I don’t know what’s going to happen to him,” she said on Thursday night, adding that buying a new ticket at such short notice would be too costly.
Neimann said she has arranged with a family friend to drop Swart at the airport in George to ask one of the passengers to walk with him when they arrive at OR Tambo.
“I don’t know if anyone will agree,” she said.
Mango spokesman Hein Kaiser said the airline’s call centre staff were correct with what they told Neimann.
“Civil aviation regulations note, as a general rule, that travellers who are mentally disabled may not be carried on any aircraft unless accompanied by an able-bodied person… who is able to attend to their needs at all times and assist in case of an emergency,” he said.
Kaiser added that normal boarding and disembarking assistance would be provided.
The Star