Karadjov: Ryanair owes answers, not excuses, in the wheelchair case

Deputy PM demands transparency and analysis of airline actions

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov has demanded detailed responses from Ryanair after a Bulgarian family with a disabled child was removed from a plane in Sofia. He described Ryanair's attempts to blame the ground operator as unacceptable and insisted on documented explanations.

Direct questions to Ryanair

• Has an internal investigation been launched into the incident, and what are the results?
• Why were there no safety concerns on previous flights with the same wheelchair?
• Is there an official Ryanair procedure for boarding wheelchairs, or is it solely up to the pilot's discretion?
• Why did the ground operator accept the wheelchair, but the crew did not allow it on board?
• How does Ryanair define an “aggressive passenger,” and how were these criteria applied in this case and previous ones?
• What specific steps are taken by the company before removing passengers from the aircraft?

Legal requirements and official checks

Karadjov stressed that under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, removing passengers with reduced mobility from the aircraft is only permitted after all reasonable alternatives have been exhausted, and airlines are obliged to propose alternatives. The minister said responsibility would be determined by the competent Bulgarian authorities, and an investigation by the Directorate General "Civil Aviation Administration" is already under way.

“Based on the information collected so far, I will refer the case to the Anti-Discrimination Commission,” Karadjov added, assuring that the ministry remains committed to eliminating barriers to mobility for people with disabilities.

Ryanair’s statement

Ryanair explained that for a wheelchair with a gel battery to be accepted for air transport, the battery must be isolated. The ground staff at Sofia Airport could not verify this and did not load the wheelchair. According to the airline, the passengers reacted aggressively when notified and were removed by police.