An octogenarian has been taken into custody after trying to board a plane with his deceased spouse, causing a stir among airport personnel.
The elderly man was stopped at Tenerife South Airport by security who became suspicious of his wife’s condition. Startlingly, the man informed authorities that his wife had passed away at the airport shortly before their scheduled departure.
Observing that the woman, seated in a wheelchair, was unresponsive and had a significantly low body temperature, staff at the airport’s security checkpoint became alarmed. It wasn’t until a security guard noticed the lack of response from the woman when he touched her hand that doubts arose, leading to the man’s apprehension for further investigation.
The incident was detailed by Spanish newspaper Diario de Avisos, withholding specific details such as the date, airline, or the couple’s nationality. However, Tenerife Airport has verified that the incident occurred several months ago.
According to reports, the man was pushing the wheelchair with his wife, giving the impression of an elderly couple about to embark on a journey. However, suspicions arose after the guard detected something amiss upon their passage through the checkpoint.
An airport employee recounted, “The guard approached the woman, and the man handed over the wheelchair. Upon touching her hand, she felt abnormally cold and was not breathing.”
Following the husband’s initial claims that his wife had died a few hours earlier within the airport, some staff members suggest that he tried to shift blame onto the airport facilities for her demise. Authorities and airport officials are reportedly investigating this allegation.
The man was detained and is currently cooperating with authorities. An investigation has been launched into the incident, with uncertainties lingering regarding potential actions against him.
