The Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov announced that he will file a complaint with the Commission for Protection against Discrimination over the airline's refusal to board a child in a wheelchair. He announced this on Facebook. He described the airline's attempt to shift the blame as “unacceptable“ and demanded specific answers.
On the social network, he stated that the airline owes answers, not excuses. According to him, the company is trying to shift the blame onto the ground operator and raises a number of questions:
"1. Has an internal investigation by the airline into this particular incident been initiated?
2. Why was there no safety risk on two previous flights on July 24 with the same airline, with the same assistive device, and now the opposite is claimed?
3. Is there a documented procedure by Ryanair for loading wheelchairs on board or is only the subjective judgment of the pilot sufficient?
4. Why was the assistive device accepted by the ground operator as suitable for loading on board the aircraft, but was it not allowed on the aircraft?
5. Who determines the criteria for an “aggressive passenger“ in Ryanair's practice? In a previous case at Sofia Airport, a crying woman was defined as aggressive - what criteria were applied then? And in other similar situations?
6. What specific actions and measures were taken by Ryanair before the passengers were disembarked? According to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air, disembarking passengers is a measure of last resort, which can only be taken after all reasonable alternatives have been exhausted. The air carrier or its representative is obliged by regulation to make all reasonable efforts and to offer the family an alternative option.", the Minister of Transport wrote.