Ex-BBC editor stopped from flying due to Parkinson’s felt ‘humilated’

Journalist and former BBC presenter Mark Mardell felt “humiliated” after being told he could not board a Turkish Airlines flight because he had Parkinson’s disease and did not have a doctor’s note.

The broadcaster was not aware of this requirement and was shocked when he was unable to board the flight from Istanbul to Gatwick.

Mr Mardell wrote on Facebook: “Let’s be clear: this has nothing to do with paperwork. It’s prejudice disguised as politics. It’s ignorant, insulting and frankly medieval.”

The BBC has contacted Turkish Airlines for comment.

“I would like to emphasize that these are the only airlines talking about Parkinson’s disease,” he told the BBC.

Mr Mardell is a former radio and television journalist who spent 25 years reporting and analyzing major world events, primarily for BBC Radio 4 and other broadcast organisations.

Mr Mardell said in a Facebook post that he had checked his bag but before he could pass security he was told he was unfit to fly.

“I’m sure I wasn’t drunk, I wasn’t violent, I wasn’t even late. No, my sin was having Parkinson’s disease,” he said.

“They told us I couldn’t get on the plane without a doctor’s letter. At first I thought they wanted proof that I had Parkinson’s, which was ridiculous enough. But no, the letter was supposed to say I was safe to fly.

“Apparently, Turkish Airlines has decided that Parkinson’s patients pose a danger to themselves and others.”

Mr Mardell traveled to Istanbul with his son Jake and used assisted boarding due to his condition, which he says has not caused any boarding problems on other airlines.

“Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological disorder on the planet. If you think that means we shouldn’t be allowed on planes, you have a problem, and it’s not neurological,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Turkish Airlines’ website includes the following statements: “Passengers with Parkinson’s disease are accepted to the flight with a doctor’s report stating ‘there is no harm in traveling by plane’.

“The report must include a statement stating that the passenger may travel with or without an escort,” the website adds.

The doctor’s report submitted must be current and usually compiled within the last 10 days.

But Mr Mardell listed British Airways, Lufthansa, American, Emirates and Qantas as examples of major airlines that do not require a doctor’s note if a passenger has Parkinson’s disease.

“Turkish Airlines is the only country that requires Parkinson’s patients to bring a doctor’s note. This is not ‘help’, it is a barrier,” Mr. Mardell said.

The journalist said that he found most of the Turkish Airlines staff he encountered unhelpful and that they “surprised” him and left him alone at the airport for hours trying to find his luggage.

Eventually a helpful staff member and member of the public helped her and she found her bag.

Mr Mardell then returned to the UK and returned the next day on Wizz Air.

He shared his ordeal on Facebook to highlight what happened, in the hope that other Parkinson’s patients would not face the same problem.

“I had to rebook, stay in a hotel and spend the night stranded because I have a medical condition, not an infectious disease,” he said.

“Parkinson’s patients all over the world need to know about this Airline’s outrageous policy.”