Sobbing Ukrainian war vet who lost his leg forced off plane ride home
A Ukrainian veteran who lost his leg in the war was booted from a flight as he sobbed asking for help getting home from Israel.
A viral video published on TikTok Saturday shows the veteran, who has not been publicly identified, standing with crutches at the front of the plane, speaking with crew members before the Wizz Air flight was set to take off from Tel Aviv to Warsaw, Poland.
According to the uploader, @mbbddk, the flight crew for the Hungary-based airline said the man could not take his seat because of his prosthesis.
The veteran desperately tried to explain that he lost his leg fighting against Russia’s invasion, and that he was trying to get back to his family in Ukraine.
Last year, Israel began accepting injured Ukraine fighters who had lost their limbs to undergo treatment and rehabilitation at their hospitals.
“How am I going to get home,” the man asked the crew, at one point crying, falling over and hurting his hands, Nexta reported.
He was then forced to leave the flight and escorted by guards.
The video drew rapid backlash against Wizz Air, who issued an apology Sunday over the incident, which remains under review.
“Safety is our number one priority and it is our crew’s responsibility to ensure that all passengers are fit to fly or are accompanied by someone to support them,” the airline said in a statement. “If there is any indication that a passenger has a medical condition that might put them at risk while flying, we are obligated to deny boarding.
“In this instance, it was a difficult but necessary decision taken with the passenger’s safety in mind. He was provided with water and somewhere to sit while waiting for assistance from airport staff,” the airline added.
The airline added that it would never “never discriminate against someone on the grounds of a disability” and that it often carries passengers who use prostheses.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said in a statement Monday that he was disappointed with Wizz Air’s treatment of the veteran, and that his agency will be investigating the incident as well.
“If the violation is confirmed, we will make maximum efforts to restore the rights of the citizen of Ukraine,” Nikolenko said. “Protecting the rights of Ukrainians abroad is an absolute priority.”
