An 80-year-old man was apprehended while trying to board a flight with his deceased wife, causing a stir among airport personnel. The elderly individual was stopped by security at Tenerife South Airport due to suspicions surrounding his wife’s condition. Startlingly, he informed the authorities that his wife had passed away at the airport just a few hours before their scheduled departure.
Observing that the woman, seated in a wheelchair, was unresponsive with a significantly low body temperature, staff became alarmed. The incident transpired at the airport’s metal detector checkpoint. It wasn’t until a security guard attempted to interact with the woman by shaking her hand and received no response that doubts arose, leading to the man’s arrest for further investigation.
Details of the incident were disclosed by Spanish newspaper Diario de Avisos, although specifics such as the date, airline, or the couple’s nationalities were not revealed. Nonetheless, Tenerife Airport verified that the occurrence occurred several months ago.
According to reports from the Daily Star, “The man was pushing the wheelchair with his wife in it, giving the appearance of an elderly couple ready to embark. However, upon passing through the checkpoint, the guard sensed something was amiss.”
An employee at Tenerife South airport recounted, “The guard approached the woman, and when he touched her hand, he noticed her abnormally low temperature and lack of breathing.” The supervisor was promptly informed, leading to the activation of the emergency protocol with the arrival of multiple security personnel, Civil Guard members, and forensic experts.
The husband claimed his wife had died a few hours earlier inside the airport, yet some staff members suggest he tried to attribute blame to the airport facilities. This claim is now under investigation by authorities and airport officials.
The man has been taken into custody and is cooperating with authorities. An investigation has been launched into the incident, with the outcome regarding any potential actions against the man remaining uncertain.