An 80-year-old man was apprehended for trying to board a plane with his deceased wife, causing a stir among airport personnel.
The elderly individual was stopped by security at Tenerife South Airport due to suspicions about his wife’s condition. Shockingly, he informed authorities that his wife had passed away at the airport just before their scheduled flight.
Airport staff noticed the woman, seated in a wheelchair, was unresponsive with a dangerously low body temperature. The incident occurred at the metal detector checkpoint in the airport’s security area. A security guard became suspicious when the woman did not react to being shaken, leading to the man’s arrest for further interrogation.
While specific details such as the date, airline, and nationality of the couple have not been revealed, Spanish newspaper Diario de Avisos reported the incident. Nonetheless, Tenerife Airport confirmed that the event occurred several months ago.
Witnesses described the man pushing the wheelchair with his wife, giving the appearance of an elderly couple preparing to travel. However, suspicions arose when the guard noticed something was amiss after they passed through security.
An airport employee stated that upon closer inspection, the woman had an unusually low temperature and showed no signs of breathing. Emergency protocols were activated promptly, with security agents, Civil Guard members, and forensic personnel responding to the scene.
The husband claims his wife died a few hours earlier within the airport premises, but some reports suggest he may be attempting to attribute blame to the airport for her death. Authorities and airport officials are reportedly investigating this allegation.
The man has been arrested and is cooperating with the authorities. An inquiry has been launched into the incident, with the outcome regarding potential actions against him remaining uncertain.