'Disgrace' as Italy's Wheelchair Football Team Barred From easyJet Flight to Glasgow
Italy’s aviation authority opened an investigation after easyJet allegedly blocked six wheelchair football players despite prior approval for their mobility aids.
- On Monday, July 20, 2026, the Italian National Powerchair Football team was denied boarding at Fiumicino airport before an easyJet flight to Argentina for a World Championships warm-up event, despite having secured advance permission from the airline in April.
- Airline staff allegedly blocked the team because the Airbus A320 could only accommodate five wheelchairs, though the Federazione Italiana Paralimpica Powerchair Sport had received authorization for six athletes with both daily mobility and match wheelchairs.
- EasyJet reportedly proposed leaving one athlete in Rome and shipping match wheelchairs separately to Edinburgh. The Comitato Italiano Paralimpico described this as "an offence to sporting merit, competitive preparation and the respect due to a national team."
- Italy's civil aviation authority opened an investigation into potential non-compliance with EU regulations protecting disabled passengers. EasyJet launched an internal inquiry and stated it is working to find a solution for the passengers.
- CIP President Marco Giunio Sanctis condemned the incident, stating, "Wheelchairs for a Paralympic athlete are not an 'extra' or bulky luggage, but the extension of one's body." The CIP vowed to pursue legal action for damages and demand binding carrier regulations.
14 Articles
14 Articles
The Herald Scotland
Glasgow Times'Disgrace' as Italy's wheelchair football team barred from easyJet flight to Glasgow
An investigation has been launched after the Italian powerchair football team were denied access to a flight to Glasgow to compete in a tournament.
Five seats guaranteed instead of six despite the organization of the trip was made in April and with other guarantees: this is what happened and the firm condemnation of the president of the Paralympic Committee
From the complaint of the Italian Paralympic Committee to the Enac investigation: it becomes a case the failure to board the Italian powerchair football team, which was blocked in Fiumicino,...
Abodes: 'Made of extreme gravity'. Enac opens an inquiry. Easyjet: 'Sorry' (ANSA)
The Italian Paralympic Committee charges against Easyjet and considers its position a "serious offence against dignity"
Líente will try to understand why the flight to Glasgow has been denied due to lack of assistance
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