Airline not backing down after removing passenger who took a sleeping pill

LIKE many flyers, Stephen Bennett took a sleeping pill to help him get some shut-eye on his flight. Then he was “humiliated” by airline staff.

A man was removed from his WestJet flight when he fell asleep after taking a sleeping pill prescribed by his doctor

A MAN was removed from a flight because he took a sleeping pill prior to boarding — a move that flight staff said made him too impaired to fly.

Canadian man Stephen Bennett and his family were travelling on WestJet from British Columbia, Canada, to Cuba on October 13, Fox News reported.

During the stopover in Toronto, Mr Bennett said he took a sleeping pill prescribed to him by his doctor.

According to the BBC, Mr Bennett said he did not sleep on the overnight flight to Toronto and took the pill before boarding the second flight to Cuba.

Mr Bennett, who reportedly was recovering from a stroke, boarded the flight early and fell asleep in his seat.

However, the trip took a turn for the worse when he was woken up by a flight attendant who allegedly called him a “medical emergency” and said he had to leave the plane.

Paramedics came and removed Mr Bennett from the plane in a wheelchair.

“It was so humiliating,” he told the BBC. “Basically, the stewardess became judge, jury and executioner.”

Mr Bennett said paramedics checked his vitals in the terminal and cleared him to fly, but the WestJet flight crew refused to let him board.

He said he also had his doctor send an email ensuring his health for the flight, but was still not allowed back on the plane.

In a comment to Fox News, WestJet stood by their decision. Though the airline said it could not comment extensively on individual situations, a spokesperson said Mr Bennett was removed for being “under the influence of drugs,” not for sleeping, and said the accounts given by the crew “differ significantly” from what Mr Bennett is alleging.

“When our crews observe a guest who is exhibiting signs of not being fit to fly, we will, out of an abundance of caution and in adherence with Transport Canada’s regulations, remove the guest from the flight.

“These decisions are not taken lightly, but are made for the safety of the guest in question, other guests on the aircraft and our crews. We regret the inconvenience to our guest when situations like this occur,” the airline said to Fox News.

WestJet said it stood by its decision

Mr Bennett, who had booked an all-inclusive holiday in Cuba, said he had to spend $2120 on a hotel room and tickets for his wife, his son and himself on another airline after WestJet told the group the earliest flight they could put them on was the following week.

“It threw a massive wrench into the happiness (of the trip),” he told the BBC, noting the change in flights cost the group two-days of the trip they had already paid for.

Mr Bennett is seeking compensation and further explanation from the airline, BBC reported.