An octogenarian man was apprehended while trying to board a plane with his deceased wife, causing a commotion among airport personnel.
The elderly individual was stopped by security at Tenerife South Airport due to suspicions surrounding his wife’s condition. Startlingly, the man informed authorities that his wife had passed away at the airport shortly before their planned flight.
Airport staff noticed the woman, who was seated in a wheelchair, showed no response and had a significantly low body temperature. The incident transpired at the metal detector checkpoint within the airport’s security zone. It was only when a security officer realized the woman did not react when her hand was shaken that doubts arose, leading to the man’s arrest for further investigation.
Reported by Spanish newspaper Diario de Avisos, details such as the date, airline, or the couple’s nationalities have not been disclosed. Nonetheless, Tenerife Airport has confirmed the incident occurred several months ago.
“The man was seen pushing his wife in a wheelchair, giving the impression of an elderly couple about to travel. However, suspicions arose after passing through the checkpoint,” as stated by the Daily Star.
An employee at Tenerife South airport recounted, “The guard approached the woman, and the man handed over the wheelchair. Upon touching her hand, she was discovered to have an abnormally low temperature and no signs of breathing.”
The worker promptly alerted the supervisor, leading to the activation of the emergency protocol with the arrival of numerous security personnel, Civil Guard members, and forensic experts at the scene.
According to the husband’s initial claims, he asserts his wife had died a few hours earlier within the airport premises. Nevertheless, some staff members reportedly suggest that the man tried to shift blame for the death onto the airport facilities. This allegation is currently being investigated by authorities and airport officials.
The man has been detained and is cooperating with the ongoing inquiry into the incident. It remains uncertain whether any legal action will be taken against him.