Boy with Tourette's refused flight for bomb remark

Boy with Tourette's refused flight for bomb remark48 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLewis AdamsEssexFamily pictureThirteen-year-old Mason was heartbroken to not be allowed on the flight, his dad saidArmed police marched a 13-year-old boy with Tourette syndrome out of an airport after he shouted "bomb", leaving him and his family stranded.British Airways (BA) refused Mason and his family, from Harwich in Essex, entry to a Spain-bound flight at the gate due to safety risks.His dad, Martyn, 39, said the "horrendous" experience at London Gatwick Airport on Saturday brought him to tears, and accused the airline of discrimination.A spokeswoman for BA said it was "an extremely difficult, complex and distressing situation", adding Mason's condition was not the reason for its decision."Due to a number of contributing factors, the decision was made not to allow the group to travel on the flight," she said.The family, who spent £4,000 on the flights for a group of 10, warned BA staff the day before of what Mason might say, as he was anxious about flying.Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition that causes people to make involuntary sounds or movements, known as tics.Martyn said everything went "seamlessly" until they reached the gate, despite Mason, who was wearing a sunflower lanyard and had his diagnosis letter with him, shouting the word "bomb" several times.Family pictureMartyn and his wife, Gemma, had to fork out £2,400 on new flights after the rowAs they tried to board the flight, a manager denied them entry and, in a video of the confrontation, said: "We are not refusing him because he's got a disability. "We are refusing him because there's been a threat made that he has a bomb in his bag."Martyn told the BBC: "Everyone was in tears because we've been waiting for this holiday for a long time."Armed police escorted Mason out of the airport wi...