Airline refuses to Fly Couple with Special needs Child

 Singapore: A Singapore-based airline has refused to fly an Indian-origin couple travelling with their special needs child, citing safety reasons, sparking an uproar online.

Divya George, the mother of the five-year-old girl, posted online that the captain of budget-airline Scoot caused the commotion after he refused to allow the child to fly with an infant seat belt on a flight to Phuket from Singapore. 

Divya's daughter only weighs 8.5 kg and is the size of a 1-year-old child. George claimed that their request for a belt was rejected citing safety reasons. The captain refused to speak to the couple for an hour and told them they could either deboard or leave their daughter in her own seat. 

Divya garnered immense support online when she shared about her situation on social media earlier today. 

"Our flight that was to take off at 7:35 am has been delayed by an hour so far because they refuse to fly with my special needs child. 

They want to deplane us because they refuse to take her," she wrote on her Facebook page. 

She also posted a video of the incident. 

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

"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," said the airline in an email reply. 

"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.