“It was just awful”
07:56, 10 Jul 2025Updated 07:57, 10 Jul 2025
Harley Wardzala, middle, was left traumatised by the incident at Bristol Airport(Image: James Wardzala)
A seven year old boy with autism has been “severely traumatised” following an ordeal at Bristol Airport, says his family.
Harley Wardzala, who also lives with global development delay, was reportedly made to leave his specialist wheelchair by security officers, and his father claims the airport staff insisted on scanning the youngster’s vital sensory toys, triggering a “full-blown meltdown”.
This incident led to such severe distress for Harley that his family were forced to miss their flight and thus, their long-awaited holiday to Portugal.
In response to the complaint, a spokesperson from Bristol Airport offered an apology to the family, attributing much of their difficulties to stringent security measures.
Describing the chaos, James stated: “Everything was going alright until we hit security, where it was just awful,
“We were pushed in with everybody else, and they weren’t accommodating at all”, reports Bristol Live.
James said: “Harley was forcibly separated from his chair, resulting in a full-blown meltdown, screaming, kicking, and completely inconsolable.”
He further lamented: “They ignored his needs, and just tried to push everything through at their own pace. Our son was treated with zero compassion and no dignity, and our family holiday was ruined.”
Mr Wardzala shared that the family had put extensive effort and over £5,400 into planning the holiday, making sure it suited Harley’s special needs. The trip on July 5 was meant to be their first international break in years.
Although they initially had a good start at the airport, Mr Wardzala’s family trip took a turn for the worse when the special assistance lane was shut, leading them to the crowded general security queue.
“The environment was overwhelming, exactly the kind of situation we had tried to avoid,” Mr Wardzala remarked.
James recounted how, after security demanded Harley’s wheelchair for swabbing, he had no choice but to carry his greatly upset son through the security scanners.
Mr Wardzala shared that the ordeal escalated as officials subjected the whole family to an extra search and swab, including Harley.
“By the time we were finished, Harley was severely traumatised, my wife was in tears, and our family was shaken,” Mr Wardzala expressed.
Describing the aftermath, Mr Wardzala noted Harley was so agitated from the experience that it took nearly an hour to soothe him, resulting in a missed flight.
Mr Wardzala acknowledged the importance of security checks but felt the distressing event could have been sidestepped if the special assistance lane was operational or if the staff had proper training.
He commended the EasyJet staff for their support during and after the upsetting security incident.
Though the airline proposed a later flight for the family, Mr Wardzala stated they chose instead to return home.
The family are now battling to reclaim some of the £5,400 they splashed out on the holiday from their travel insurance provider.
A spokesperson for Bristol Airport expressed regret over the incident and attributed many of the problems Harley faced to security protocols.
“We’re sorry to hear about this passenger’s experience”, the spokesperson stated. “We’re already investigating the circumstances and will respond directly to the customer.
“Our security operates under stringent Department for Transport rules, which stipulate that all passengers, their belongings, and any equipment must pass through scanners before they can board a flight.
“If wheelchairs cannot pass through scanners then they must be searched and swabbed by security staff.”
The airport spokesperson also encouraged passengers with special needs to arrange assistance in advance, something Mr Wardzala confirmed he had done.
“We would urge anyone who may need assistance to book this in advance through our website before travelling,” the spokesperson advised.
“We strongly recommend passengers who may wish to use our sensory room to book it in advance, as it may not otherwise be available. Our website contains numerous guides for those with disabilities, restricted mobility, or travelling with medical aids.”
Harley Wardzala, middle, was left traumatised by the incident at Bristol Airport(Image: James Wardzala)