El. Venizelos: Who was the 67-year-old woman who lost her life – How the accident happened
A 67-year-old woman tragically died after a fall while disembarking from a plane at Athens International Airport.
A tragic incident occurred at Athens International Airport on the night of February 26, when a 67-year-old woman, who had a disability, fell while using a special lift to disembark from a flight arriving from Cephalonia. Reports indicate that the protective barrier of the lift opened unexpectedly as the woman was being assisted by ground staff, causing them both to fall approximately 1.5 meters. Although emergency services arrived quickly and the woman was conscious when transported to the airport's medical facility, she later passed away in the hospital despite receiving CPR for about an hour.
Medical experts are perplexed by the incident, as the fall from the mentioned height typically does not lead to fatalities. The investigation into the circumstances of the accident is ongoing, with attention being given to the malfunctioning barrier that may have contributed to the dangerous fall. Eyewitnesses reported that the woman was carefully transferred to the lift, which raises further questions about the procedures followed by the airport staff during the disembarking process.
This unfortunate incident highlights the importance of safety protocols and equipment functioning for passengers with disabilities, as even minor accidents can have severe consequences. It has raised concerns regarding the accessibility measures in place at one of Greece's busiest airports and calls for a thorough review of safety standards to prevent similar accidents in the future.