Airline refuses to board Indian-origin child with special needs

Scoot airlines - owned by Singapore Airlines on Thursday refused to board Indian origin child with special needs, citing safety reasons.

It is learnt that Indian-origin Singapore residents Divya George, her husband and five-year-old daughter were going for a three-day vacation to Phuket on Thursday morning.

Divya George took to Facebook to share the ordeal she had to suffer as the flight attendants and captains denied her five-year-old daughter - with special needs - an infant seatbelt, even though she explained that her daughter suffers from a rare condition, and weighs less than 9 kgs at 5 years of age, thus requiring an infant seatbelt.

However, the couple claimed that they were mistreated by the airlines, with the Captain even insisting that they disembark.

The family, however, refused to deplane and resisted for more than an hour. There were heated arguments with the crew and finally the plane took off. The child was not provided with infant seat belt.

Scoot airlines, which is owned by Singapore Airlines through its subsidiary Budget Aviation Holdings said it had reached out to the guest to explain the arrangements that have been made.