Madrid, Spain – A passenger returning to Israel from Mexico was removed from the aircraft after the pilot heard that she was physically disabled and refused to take her.
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Zelda Gelk, 43, flew to Mexico with her brother to visit friends and family, and decided to extend her stay by a week after her brother had already returned to Israel. A few years ago Gelk had flown alone from Mexico to Israel and did not think there would be a problem. Gelk has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair but she can walk for very short distances and can drink from a glass using a straw.
Last Sunday Gelk boarded her Iberia Airlines return flight to Israel, via Madrid. Before takeoff she asked an attendant to assist her in getting from her seat to the bathroom, if needed. After the aircraft began taxiing, however, the captain announced that he had to return to the terminal to offload an ill passenger.
“My sister heard the announcement and felt sorry for that passenger,” Zelda’s brother, Shaul Gelk, related. “They returned to the gate, the door opened and suddenly someone was next to her with a wheelchair, asking her to come with him.”
Gelk had no mobile phone and it took a few hours before she was able to alert friends and family of her situation. Friends came to get her, and her brother contacted the airline to arrange for a return flight to Israel for her.
Shaul Gelk told Haaretz that Iberia asked him to bring, one after the other, doctors’ notes confirming that his sister did not need a diaper, was fit to fly and was able to swallow pills, despite his protests that she was disabled, not sick, and was not on medication. She arrived in Israel on Friday, five days after her scheduled return.
The general manager of Iberia Airlines in Israel was on vacation and could not be reached for comment.
I actually think the pilot did the right thing, he doesn’t know that she is disabled. to his eyes she is sick, why would he take off & be stuck up in the sky with a sick patient when he can be sure by taking her off the plane & once its confirmed that she’s disabled then she can board the next flight. I would of done the same. I think this story is 1 of many but it surfaces because she’s jewish.. that’s my opinion
I think it is also a bit unfair to ask a flight attendant to take her to the bathroom. Sorry but someone as disabled as Ms.Gelk shouldn’t fly alone. It’s unfair to expect others to help her when it isn’t their job. I may sound heartless but unfortunately it is what it is
Maybe it would be Better to take a Cruise Back to Israel….
Shame on the Airline, They had enough time between checkin and boarding to do all the checking they wanted. They should have let her go home.
R’yid, YOU are sick, and no pilot should allow you to fly on their plane. after all when a person talks like you do they come across as terribly ill and a danger to society and not as mentaly disabled. Maybe you a need a few disabled people in your family to change your mind.
she should not fly by herself
moishe zichmich.. go fly a kite..
r’yid
is talking tachlis
To Anonymous on 2008-09-14 at 12:09 PM
She didn’t ask for help in the Bathroom! She asked for help walkimg to the Bathroom!
But with everything said & done, we cannot judge unless we were there!
To Anon.
Shea:34PM,
Why does everybody react emotionally to every story, why not think first? Why is it shame on the airline? How could the airline possibly check beforehand -Do you think her ticket stated she was disabled with CP? They first realized there might be a problem when she asked for help to use the bathroom. Of course everyone should have rachmonus and accommodate disabled people, but in order to accommodate you have be given advanced notice. The airline obviously had no such advanced notice. As someone who has worked in transporting patients including CP patients, I can tell you the pilot’s worry about incontinence was realistic. Don’t assume just because I or my family is/are disabled everyone has to do whatever I/we request. Find out beforehand what they will or won’t do for you. Had this been done beforehand, both the patient and the other passengers wouldn’t have been inconvenienced. I hope all you people never become judges or Dayanim because you only use your emotions -not your Seichel!
To all of you people who think that the pilot was right to eject the woman from the flight: Would you take such a position if the wheelchair user were a prominent rabbi? After all, there have been (and continue to be) many learned rabbis who used wheelchairs (Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik, Rabbi Shimon Schwab and Rabbi Avrohom Pam immediately come to mind).
To Anon. 2:51,
Your comment is exactly what I mean in my post @2:48. Being how the g’dolim are g’dolim in bein odom l’mokom and bein odom l’chaveiro, I doubt they would even ask for help. But if they would, it would only be in a way that wouldn’t trouble anyone. They would make sure any accommodation they would need is arranged way before they showed up, not at the last minute!
i love these commenters that always come runing with shame to this shame to that, like anyone gives a $%^& who you shame.
How sad for this woman. But truthfully, she should have had someone accompany her for this flight. It really is not fair to request of the flight attendant to give her special hands on attention. We all know how cramped planes are today, too many seats and rediculously little walking space. This could really be a problem. Now, what were her family and friends thinking when they plunked her down at the airport for this TRANSATLANTIC flight. G-d know how much airtime this may involve.
All you heartless people who think the pilot did right:
Why didn’t he have someone TALK TO HER and find out her situation and what she needs WITHOUT EMBARASSING HER??
And it is all well and good for you to say that she shouldn’t fly alone. But how many of you will pay for the second ticket for the companion?
She feels able to fly alone, and she’s done it before. It is her choice to make.
There but for the grace of God go each one of you. V’ahavta lereiecha k’mocha.
Vu nemt min a bissala luft!
Why make such a stink?
Since 911 pilots have been given far more discretion deciding who they want and “dont want” on their plane. This is probably a good thing, along with reenforced cockpit doors, weapons training for pilots etc. There was a case a couple of years ago with an Arab on a plane- the pilot simply said-‘I’m Not taking off till he gets off my plane. The airline company backed the pilot (to the dismay of the ACLU) -Point being- Pilots decide these things,as commander of the flight-End of story.
I hope she sues their pants off. She flew to Mexico didn’t she?
To Anon.
yitzchokm:36PM,
There you go with your emotions again. Hashem gave you a brain -use it! 1. He didn’t have to talk to her- his flight attendant did that for him. 2. How do you get her off the plane without sending in a wheelchair -maybe all planes should have secret trap doors?! 3. Probably paying for another person to accompany her is probably cheaper than having to pay the airline for extra charges that they will charge to accommondate her. The airline is not a Chessed org. 4.”She has flown alone before, it’s her choice.” Who says? You? It is her right to be accommondated if she is disabled and notifies the airline beforehand. They might charge extra for the accommondation; it depends on
their policy and how much accommondation she needs!