Ms Margaret Adeyileka, a middle-aged woman who uses a wheelchair, says the humiliation she suffered recently on board a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Lagos has become her life's worst moment in her decades of flying.

Adeyileka told our correspondent on Sunday that the incident, which occurred on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, shattered her joy, confidence, dignity, and optimism about life.

She claimed that when she complained about having difficulty accessing her seat with a wheelchair, the flight supervisor, rather than offering assistance, ordered that she be thrown out of the plane. She did, however, say that the timely intervention of some Nigerians on board saved her from further embarrassment.

"I am a frequent flyer and a businesswoman who has not let my disability limit what I can achieve in life," she lamented. "But that incident left me instantly stressed and I wondered if I would have been treated like trash if I didn't have a disability and was not in a wheelchair."

She told our correspondent that on April 4, she left Lagos on Turkish Airlines flight TK 0626 for Istanbul on her way to London.

She noted that check-in and boarding at Lagos' Murtala Muhammed International Airport were normal, but upon arrival in Istanbul, she discovered that the handlers had damaged her motorized wheelchair, which was her only mode of transportation.

"I complained to the people in charge at the airport, but they did nothing," he said. "In fact, it was treated lightheartedly. Because I had a tight schedule in Istanbul before heading to London, I decided to take it in stride. I had to get my agent to help me find someone to fix it at my own expense and inconvenience so that my move would go smoothly. I can't do anything without my scooter.

"On April 10, 1979, I flew to London on TK 1979. The check-in process was routine, and there were no issues because the flight was bound for London, United Kingdom, where strict laws and rules protect people with disabilities."

According to Adeyileka, that was the end of the courtesy.

She stated that after her engagements, she would return to Nigeria and boarded a Turkish Airlines flight TK 1984 back to Istanbul on April 26 to connect to Lagos. Despite the nine-hour layover in Istanbul, she claimed there were no provisions for refreshments or other forms of comfort.

She did, however, note that the drama began on April 27 when they boarded flight TK 0625 of the same Turkish Airlines at the scheduled time of 14:15, where the courtesy she had received from the crew between London and Istanbul soon gave way to hostility and harshness.

"I was put on the in-flight wheelchair and wheeled to my seat," she explained. The aisle was quite narrow, making it difficult for the wheelchair to navigate. "I was perplexed as to why such a large in-flight wheelchair was used for such an aircraft."I requested the attention of the in-flight supervisor, and when she arrived, she lost all professionalism and said, "Throw her out of the plane and call me the cops." I hadn't had any verbal interactions with them, so I was curious where that came from. That was simply too much for me. I was treated like garbage. I also wondered if it was because I was flying to Lagos because this would never happen on a flight to Europe or the United States."

Adeyileka stated that she mustered the courage to approach the supervisor. "I told her I was a proud, educated Nigerian who was aware of her rights." "I insisted that she not throw me off the plane," she explained.

When she saw the trouble brewing, she claimed that some Nigerians on board who couldn't stand the prejudice against her stepped up to defend her. She claimed that two Business Class passengers were alerted to her ordeal and quickly intervened to defuse the situation.

"Hon Faridah Odangi-Suleiman, a business class passenger, was drawn to the unbelievable treatment of a Nigerian in a wheelchair," she said. She quickly alerted Hon Stella Okotete, another Business Class passenger, who warned the crew supervisor, calmed other Nigerians on the flight, and doused the situation professionally."

She emphasized that if they had not intervened, the situation could have devolved into chaos.

"Ms Okotete even went above and beyond; she graciously vacated her seat in Business Class for me," she added. She and two other Nigerians on board helped me into her seat while she went to take my seat in the Economy class.

Throughout the flight, she and Ms Odangi-Suleiman kept an eye on me until we landed at Lagos's MMIA. They provided me with much-needed pastoral care, and their acts of humility and generosity quickly restored my faith in them when I was at my lowest point in life."

Adeyileka, on the other hand, expressed surprise that the captain remained aloof throughout the drama, as he never appeared, even after the plane took off.

"When I confronted the captain after we landed, he claimed it was because the flight was ready for take-off, which I felt was an excuse for his neglect and ineptitude," she later said. I also believe I was mistreated because I am a disabled Nigerian on a flight to Lagos, where the crew's attitude differs from other routes they fly."

When our correspondent contacted the airline for comment, it stated that the matter would be looked into. In response to our correspondent's e-mail, Dr. Jeleel Odekunle stated, "We will investigate the matter and get back to you as soon as possible." As of press time, he had not returned.

Also, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority's spokesperson, Sam Adurogboye, did not return his calls, and his text message was not returned as of press time.