An 80-year-old man was apprehended at Tenerife South Airport for trying to board a flight with his deceased wife, causing a stir among airport personnel. Security personnel grew suspicious of the elderly man when they noticed his wife’s condition. Astonishingly, the man informed the police that his wife had passed away at the airport shortly before their scheduled departure.
Airport staff became concerned when they observed the unresponsive woman, seated in a wheelchair, with a dangerously low body temperature at the metal detector checkpoint. The situation escalated when a security guard realized the woman showed no response when he touched her hand, prompting the man’s arrest for further investigation.
The incident, as reported by Spanish newspaper Diario de Avisos, occurred several months ago, but details such as the date, airline involved, and the couple’s nationalities remain undisclosed. Nonetheless, Tenerife Airport confirmed the occurrence of the incident.
According to reports from the Daily Star, an employee at the airport described how the guard noticed the abnormal temperature and lack of breathing in the woman after the man handed over the wheelchair. Emergency protocols were activated promptly, with various security agents, Civil Guard members, and forensic personnel arriving at the scene.
The man claimed his wife had died a few hours earlier within the airport premises, but some staff suggest that he tried to blame the airport for her death. Authorities and airport officials are now investigating this allegation.
The man was taken into custody and is assisting authorities with their inquiries. An investigation into the death has been initiated, and it is uncertain if any legal action will be taken against him.