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The dead woman was seated in a wheelchair as if she were a normal passenger.
10:05, Wed, Jan 14, 2026 Updated: 10:06, Wed, Jan 14, 2026
The dead woman was seated in a wheelchair as if she were a normal passenger (Image: Getty)
An 80-year-old man has been arrested at Tenerife South Airport after trying to board a flight with his wife, who had already died. The woman had been placed in a wheelchair, as if she were a normal passenger, and the incident occurred at the airport's security checkpoint, where, at first glance, nothing seemed unusual.
It was only when the couple passed through the metal detector that a security officer noticed the woman was not reacting. According to a witness who spoke to Diario de Avisos, when an officer approached and took her hand, she realised the woman was cold to the touch and not breathing. Emergency procedures were immediately activated, and security staff, Guardia Civil officers and forensic teams rushed to the area.
The woman had been placed in a wheelchair as though she were a normal passenger (Image: Getty)
During questioning, the husband reportedly admitted to investigators that his wife had passed away "a few hours prior" within the airport terminal itself. However, witnesses have said that the man attempted to blame the airport facilities for her death - a claim that is currently being analysed by investigators alongside the cause of death.
The man was arrested at the scene and cooperated with officers. The nationality and intended destination of the couple are currently unknown. The investigation remains open to determine if there is any criminal liability regarding the transport of a body or failure to report a death.
This bizarre case comes just weeks after a similar incident involving a British family at Malaga Airport. On this occasion, passengers on an easyJet flight bound for Gatwick Airport were horrified to discover they had been sitting near a deceased 89-year-old woman.
Witnesses have said the man attempted to blame the airport facilities for his wife's death (Image: Getty)
Witnesses claimed her family had wheeled her onto the plane, insisting she was "just tired", though it was later revealed she had died before takeoff, forcing the pilot to turn the plane around on the runway.
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Tenerife South Airport is the primary international gateway to the island of Tenerife. Located in the Granadilla de Abona municipality, it serves as a major tourist hub on the island's southern coast. In 2024, it set record-breaking traffic numbers, with just over 13.7 million passengers - an 11.4% increase from the previous year - solidifying its position as one of Spain's busiest airports.
Approximately 91% of traffic is international, with the remaining 9% consisting of domestic flights - mostly from Madrid and other islands in the archipelago. The UK is the largest market, with Manchester and London the top routes, followed by Germany and Belgium.
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