Qantas 'sorry' over NZ insulin blunder

[JohnK]

Qantas 'sorry' over NZ insulin blunder

Thursday Nov 2 07:00 AEDT

Qantas has apologised to a diabetic who fell into a coma after airport staff refused to let him take his insulin on board a flight from Auckland to Christchurch.

The New Zealand Herald reported Tui Russell, a 43-year-old Auckland chef, was told by check-in staff at Auckland last month he could not take the clearly-labelled medication on board because it was dangerous.

He had a severe attack on the flight and was hospitalised for two weeks after falling into a coma shortly before landing at Christchurch Airport.

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I thought the ban on liquids was only on flights to/from the US and UK!

 

[NM]

I thought the ban on liquids was only on flights to/from the US and UK!

That is the current policy. However, after the recent terror threats in the UK, there was significant confusion for a short time about what could and could not be carried on board any flight. The rules changed regularly and with little notification in the week or so following the threats. I cannot see from the news report just when this incident occurred.

 

[JohnK]

I cannot see from the news report just when this incident occurred.

The article does not specify an exact date but does mention the incident occurred last month and the man was hospitalised for 2 weeks.

 

[NM]

The article does not specify an exact date but does mention the incident occurred last month and the man was hospitalised for 2 weeks.

This NZ Herald report linked by Kiwi Flyer on FT raises some interesting points. It seems the entire story may not have come out just yet. But it does provide a date for the flight.

No hospital records for 'comatose' airline passenger

Thursday November 2, 2006
By James Ihaka

Doubts have emerged about the coma a diabetic said he suffered on a flight from Auckland to Christchurch.

Qantas issued an apology to Peter Russell who says he was not allowed to take his insulin on board a flight on September 18.

 

[JohnK]

It seems the entire story may not have come out just yet.

Typical of the media to release stories without having all the facts.

Just goes to prove don't believe everything you read.

 

[bammac]

When I first read the article I was pretty disgusted with Qantas offering a paltry $500 voucher to compensate after the guy went into a coma.

But after thinking about it, why would he get on the plane? If I was about to have my life-saving medication taken from me, I would not proceed with out it.

Maybe he is aiming for a lifetime of free flights on Qantas

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I thought the ban on liquids was only on flights to/from the US and UK!

There has been no such restriction within NZ. I would bet they were taken because of needle being perceived as not allowed (erroneously) being as a sharp implement.

 

[Altair]

And the latest on this saga.
No hospital records for 'comatose' airline passenger - 02 Nov 2006 - Airlines
Interesting to see what pans out in the next few days.

 

[browski]

When I first read the article I was pretty disgusted with Qantas offering a paltry $500 voucher to compensate after the guy went into a coma.

But after thinking about it, why would he get on the plane? If I was about to have my life-saving medication taken from me, I would not proceed with out it.

Maybe he is aiming for a lifetime of free flights on Qantas

......and maybe you are aiming for a job as the Qantas spin doctor.

 

[bammac]

......and maybe you are aiming for a job as the Qantas spin doctor.

I may do, once I master the england language that is.