A former BBC presenter said Turkish Airlines refused to let him board his flight October 25, from Istanbul to London because he did not have a doctor’s note confirming he was fit to fly. Mark Mardell has Parkinson’s disease. Mardell, 68, described the incident as “humiliating,” claiming Turkish staff pointed to his shaking hands and denied him assistance after rejecting him at the gate.
Mardell was left alone to retrieve his bags and spent seven hours trying to navigate the airport despite mobility issues associated with Parkinson’s. Wizz Air, the carrier he used on his outbound and later return flight, did not request any medical documents.
After his complaint, Turkish Airlines refunded him his fare cost and then removed its Parkinson’s-specific medical-note requirement from its website. The UK Civil Aviation Authority told him the rule was unlawful and has challenged the airline. Other major carriers do not single out Parkinson’s and only require medical clearance in more complex medical cases.