A BRITISH tourist claims he was kicked off a flight after declaring he had a nut allergy.
Josh Silver, 25, was travelling on Turkish Airlines with his girlfriend when he was removed from the flight.
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The couple were returning from Antalya in Turkey to London Gatwick when he claims he was told to leave the flight due to his allergy, as it was against policy to fly “someone like him”.
While he does not have an airborne allergy, and only one that affects him if he eats nuts, he made sure to alert the airline to his condition.
Having informed the airline before their holiday, he refused to leave the plane, only for the airline to call the police and remove him from the flight.
He was eventually told that the airline could fly him home but he would have to pay for a new flight – Josh instead paid another £550 to fly with a different airline.
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He told the BBC that he had spoken to a Turkish Airlines manager at London Gatwick before travelling and confirmed he was okay to travel.
Josh said: “I felt like I’d done something wrong. If I had been drunk I would have understood but I’ve got a medical condition.
“Are they suggesting people with nut allergies shouldn’t fly at all? It’s discriminating.”
He added that he also had a first aid kit which his girlfriend could have used in any emergency situation.
Josh added: “They should not have flown me out in the first place only to refuse to bring me home.”
The Turkish Airlines website currently states: “Be sure that you inform us of any allergies you may have for your in-flight meal.”
A spokesperson for the airline said: “In this case, our records show that no such information was provided by the passenger until they boarded the flight.
“Unfortunately it [was] too late for cabin crew to prepare for and take precautions against potential allergy attacks in advance.”
Earlier this year, two young boys were removed from a flight after one explained that he had a deadly nut allergy.
Travelling by themselves, they were forced to return to Seoul from Atlanta due to the risk.
Sun Online Travel has contacted Turkish Airlines for comment.
