Dan says he was taken off the plane and dumped outside the airport – before being allowed on a flight the next day
A man claims he was left stranded on holiday after he was refused boarding on his return flight due an allergic reaction. Dan Bowes had no known allergies when boarding the outbound flight to Dalaman, Turkey.
But he quickly experienced a “severe” allergic reaction, with his throat swelling, breathing difficulties and itchy, puffy eyes on the plane and says the cabin crew were “fantastic”, acting swiftly to get the 32-year-old the care he needed.
On the way home, however, he claims to have been refused boarding by the same airline, Jet2. Dan, from Consett, County Durham was told he needed a form signed before he could travel. He said: “I instantly panicked. I made over 18 calls to Jet2’s emergency line, following different and conflicting advice each time. I rushed to the local hospital, had the form completed and it was sent to the airline that afternoon.
“At the airport, staff accepted the paperwork, checked me in and took photos of the form. But just five minutes before boarding, I received a call saying the form had been rejected.”
Dan claims the paperwork, a medical information form (MEDIF), was refused as the doctor had missed his name on the second page and wrote ‘N/A’ in medical history. He was escorted out of Dalaman Airport on 17 July 2025 and his luggage was removed.
He said: “I was dumped outside the airport main entrance at midnight with no help, no hotel and no guidance. I was later told I could’ve flown with another airline without the form, despite being told all day it was mandatory across all carriers. By that point, though, every flight to the UK had gone.”
Dan, and his friend Clair Maskery, 33, were left having to fork out £400 for emergency accommodation, food and transport back to Marmaris. Luckily, the next day, they were allowed home on the last Jet2 flight that night after resending a new MEDIF form through.
Dan said: “After we arrived, a letter was left under my hotel room door asking me to meet a Jet2 rep. She handed me a MEDIF form and said I needed to see the hotel doctor, as well as obtain a Fit to Fly certificate.
“I immediately went to the doctor, though he said I had a throat infection. I was issued the Fit to Fly, though I was told the MEDIF form wasn’t required. I returned to the rep, handed her my certificate and she reassured me that would be enough.
“So, naturally, I assumed I was cleared to travel. But when checking out of the hotel, she told me I couldn’t fly.”
He filed a formal complaint and later obtained their internal records. Dan claims there were multiple errors. He also alleges that the airline hasn’t yet provided a full list of onboard meals and ingredients despite repeated requests since his doctors need this information to determine his allergy – which could be life-threatening.
Dan added: “I did everything Jet2’s own rep and doctor advised. I followed every instruction I was given, double-checked twice and was told everything was fine. Their failure to communicate properly and process information correctly led to me being stranded abroad, financially out of pocket and mentally exhausted.
“This isn’t about me refusing paperwork, it’s about a company failing in its duty of care, giving contradictory information and abandoning paying customers in a foreign country.”
A spokesperson for Jet2 said: “Due to Mr Bowes falling ill on his outbound flight, our team followed standard procedure and advised him that he would need a Medical Information Form (MEDIF) to be completed by a doctor for his return flight home.
“As the form was not completed, Mr Bowes was regrettably informed that he would not be able to travel on his inbound flight. The health and safety of our customers will always be our number one priority.
“Following receipt of Mr Bowes’ completed form, we are pleased to confirm he was able to travel with us the following day.”
