Limbless woman sues airline

A British woman is suing Air France in a New York court, saying an employee told her she could not board a flight from the UK because she had no limbs.

Adele Price, 42, of Mansfield, Notts, who was born with birth defects caused by the leprosy treatment drug thalidomide, said at a news conference the employee told her that “one head, one bottom and one torso cannot and will not be allowed to fly on Air France” without help.

Price claims she suffered emotional and psychological damage and endured large expenses to complete a trip from Manchester to New York on August 19, 2000.

Price said she paid someone to fly with her and eventually completed the trip.

After Price arrived in the United States, she said an Air France agent in New York barred her from a return flight, telling Price she needed clearance from an American doctor, the lawsuit said.

She eventually bought a ticket on British Airways, which let her travel alone.

Chris Maio, a spokeswoman for Air France, declined to comment, saying she only just learned of the lawsuit.

Price initially tried to bring the lawsuit herself but found it to be too difficult and recently hired a lawyer, said her spokeswoman, Jessica Frankston.