And other travel news you may have missed.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: an EasyJet pilot was allegedly drunk and naked at a hotel; a British tourist was fined $16,000 after hiking the Dolomites; and Southwest left behind two blind passengers.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
NO.1
SOUTHWEST LEAVES TWO BLIND PASSENGERS BEHIND
After a Southwest flight from New Orleans to Orlando was delayed, two friends—both of whom are blind—were forgotten by the airline. The incident happened on July 14 when the flight was delayed by five hours. Camille Tate and Sherri Brun waited at the gate; when they finally boarded the plane, they realized they were the only two passengers remaining. Nearly everyone else had been rebooked on another flight that left earlier. Tate and Brun didn’t know that was an option, and no one from the airline came to inform them.
Tate said in an interview that the airline needs to provide better support to passengers who require additional assistance. “There needs to be some improvement in how they communicate with passengers, especially those that have disabilities.”
Southwest apologized for the inconvenience and offered both $100 vouchers for the delay. “Southwest is always looking for ways to improve our customers’ travel experiences, and we’re active in the airline industry in sharing best practices about how to best accommodate passengers with disabilities.”
NO.2
15-YEAR-OLD BOARDS THE WRONG FLIGHT, ENDS UP IN ITALY
Last week, a 15-year-old boy from the United Kingdom became separated from his family at a Spanish airport and boarded a flight to Italy instead of back home. The family was traveling from Mahon Airport in Menorca to Stansted, London, when the parents notified authorities about their missing son. Police reviewed CCTV footage and discovered the boy had boarded a flight to Milan. Airline staff noticed a passenger traveling without a ticket; staff and authorities met him upon arrival in Milan. Eventually, the boy was reunited with his family after the airline flew his mother to Italy.
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An EasyJet spokesperson said the airline is investigating how the unaccompanied minor was able to board the wrong flight.
NO.3
EASYJET PILOT IS SUSPENDED AFTER ALLEGEDLY BEING DRUNK AND NAKED AT HOTEL
On August 5, an EasyJet pilot was reportedly seen drunk and naked in the public area of a five-star hotel in Cape Verde. The pilot has been suspended, and the airline is conducting an investigation.
The man was at the Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa, and at 2:30 a.m., guests saw him stripping and wandering in the reception and gym areas. He was scheduled to operate a flight to Gatwick the following day, but after the alleged incident, he was removed from duty.
NO.4
BRITISH HIKER FACES $16,000 FINES AFTER RESCUE IN THE DOLOMITES
A British hiker who was rescued from the Dolomites in Italy after ignoring closure signs on the trail has received a bill of €14,225 ($16,000). Two Belgian hikers, who were also stranded in the same area, received much smaller bills because Belgium is still part of the European Union.
The 60-year-old hiker crossed warning signs and barriers to hike a trail that had been closed due to landslides. Officials say he ignored barriers and warnings from fellow hikers who urged him to turn around. He found himself in trouble and called rescue services after rocks started falling. Two helicopters and more than a dozen rescue staff were required to airlift him to safety. After the incident, authorities closed more trails and posted on Facebook that this was to protect hikers and rescue staff.
Related: Italian Farmers Are Charging Tourists to Walk TikTok-Famous Trail
NO.5
WILDFIRE CLOSES MOUNT VESUVIUS TRAILS
Temperatures are soaring in Southern Europe as wildfires burn. In Spain’s Basque Country and Zaragoza, there is an extreme risk from heat waves, while France has contained its largest wildfire since 1949. In Italy, temperatures are expected to reach 104 F (40 C) this week, and trails on Mount Vesuvius are closed as firefighters work to contain the flames.