Singapore Airlines’ Scoot Air Refuses to Fly Special Needs Child

The airline staff denied her five-year-old special needs daughter an infant seatbelt citing “safety concerns”.

Divya George posted pictures on Facebook, along with a detailed post about the ordeal her family was put through onboard Singapore Airlines’ budget carrier, Scoot.

(Photo: Facebook/Divya George.)

In a rather unfortunate turn of events, a woman has alleged that the staff of Scoot airlines — owned by Singapore Airlines, refused to fly along with her special needs child citing “safety concerns”.

Divya George took to Facebook to share the ordeal she had to suffer as the flight attendants and captains denied her five-year-old daughter – with special needs – an infant seatbelt, even though she explained that her daughter suffers from a rare condition, and weighs less than 9 kgs at 5 years of age, thus requiring an infant seatbelt.

In a series of Facebook posts Divya explains how she and her husband tried reasoning with the airline staff. However, they paid no heed and asked them to either let the child fly on her own seat or simply deplane.

(Photo: Facebook/Divya George.)

According to a video that she posted, a man, presumably her husband is seen arguing with a staff member, asking him that “if any one is sick or paralysed and cannot take care of themselves, cannot fly on Singapore Airlines or Scoot, is that correct?” to which the staff member categorically says “yes, because of safety concerns”.

The airline, however, responded to Soma Mukherjee, a Twitter user who condemned the airline for their insensitivity, saying they “do not have any such policy,” alluding to the woman’s claims that they “refused to fly” a child with special needs.

Scoot airlines, which is owned by Singapore Airlines through its subsidiary Budget Aviation Holdings said it had reached out to the guest to explain the arrangements that have been made.

As the passenger is five years old, for her safety consideration, infant seat belts may not suffice. She has to be strapped to her own seat with the aircraft seatbelt for take-off and landing in accordance with established cabin safety procedures.

Scoot said in an email reply to PTI

Scoot said infant seat belts are available for guests up to two years old as part of safety regulations.

"Scoot recognises, however, that the guest's physical condition may require additional consideration for comfort. Accordingly, we have made a one-time arrangement to provide a certified booster seat for the guest to ensure her return journey is more comfortable while still adhering to cabin safety procedures," it said.

The post that has gone viral on social media as people have shared and circulated as people have called out the airline for putting the couple and their child through a nightmarish ordeal.

(With inputs from PTI)