Story By: Lee Bullen,Sub Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Central European News

A Canadian couple flying from Quebec to Paris was thrown off the plane before takeoff because passengers complained that their coughing toddler could be infected with COVID-19.

Reports said that passengers asked for the cabin crew to intervene and the couple and their 21-month-old daughter Lila was asked to leave the plane.

The incident took place on 23rd February during an Air Transat flight from Quebec City in Canada to the French capital Paris.

Lila’s father Emmanuel Faug said that he still cannot believe the incident took place and that the couple has filed a complaint with Air Transat, the third-largest Canadian airline that is based in Montreal in Quebec.

The couple decided to travel with their three children despite the toddler suffering with common cold symptoms after being given the go ahead by the family doctor, according to reports.

Despite the medic’s approval, a flight attendant reportedly asked another doctor on board to examine the girl who also confirmed that she was okay to fly.

But according to local media, the captain was still not happy and sought the advice of Medlink, a company specialising in aviation medical issues.

The captain was reportedly advised to eject the girl from the plane because she did not have a medical certificate to state she was not infected.

An Air Transat statement said: “After analysing the situation, MedLink determined that the passenger’s medical condition posed a significant potential risk to passengers and crew during the flight.”

The statement added: “They [MedLink] follow the recommendations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regarding contagious diseases.”

However, the girl’s mother Clementine Ferraton said: “We were thrown off a plane against the advice of two doctors, one in person. I don’t find this normal at all.”

The Canadian couple has reportedly filed a complaint with the airline to compensate them for the cancelled holiday.

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