Liz Weir MBE, 73, from Cushendall, was due to make a guest appearance at a literary event in Edinburgh on Friday night.
But despite arriving early for a 1pm flight to take advantage of the special assistance service, she checked in on time and got to the gate early – leaving the pensioner stranded on the tarmac, missing the event.
EasyJet apologized for what happened and launched an investigation to find out exactly what happened.
“A lady in a high make-up jacket came and took me and another wheelchair user down to the runway as passengers started boarding at the gate,” Ms Weir explained to the Belfast Telegraph.
“We were waiting for everyone to get on and we thought it was our turn, but then the steps were away from the plane and they closed the doors.
“We sat there waving and yelling at the pilot.
“But he shook his head no and just walked away with my suitcase in the hold.
“All able-bodied people were on board and we were left behind, what else can you call it discrimination?”
Ms Weir, who performed in prisons and hospital rooms throughout the Troubles and around the world, was visibly upset by the “shocking” incident and spent much of the day in tears.
“I was a basketball player,” she added.
“I’m seventy, I have a sick heart and I don’t need the stress – and believe me, seeing your plane reverse without you is very stressful.
“A bus might pass you at a bus stop, but you don’t expect a plane to take off without you when you’re scanned and waiting at the gate.
Liz Weir MBE
“I thought a plane departing with the luggage of a passenger who was not on board was a major security risk.”
The author is also upset that paying ticket holders expecting to hear Irish tales of magic and sorcery at the Penicuik Community Arts Association have been left disappointed.
“People have paid money to come see me and I’m not even there,” she said.
“My daughter pointed out ‘you’re not Taylor Swift’ but that’s not the point.
“Luckily, I’m a storyteller and I was able to tell them what happened.
Ms Weir’s post on social media attracted hundreds of comments from users expressing shock and disgust.
“But the airport staff, including the head of service, were lovely and very apologetic – they are distressed and have promised a full investigation,” the former librarian stressed.
“I cannot blame easyJet for the actions of one person, but I expect to be compensated for the inconvenience, stress and loss of earnings.
“I would have liked to speak to the pilot who looked down and saw two people in wheelchairs and a woman in a high make-up jacket waving and shouting, but he decided to just fly away and leave them.”
The disappointed passenger was booked on a flight that left at 8pm on Friday, allowing her to fulfill her weekend plans and attend a separate event in Glasgow on Monday.
“I’ve got friends to pick me up but I’ll have to find my bag when I get to the airport so I told them to take their time,” Ms Weir said.
“Who knows how long I’ll be there?”
An easyJet spokesman told this newspaper “we are very sorry” that the flight departed without the three passengers who were accompanied by the airport’s special assistance provider.
“We quickly reached out to the provider and our ground handling team to understand why this happened,” added a spokesman for the low-cost airline.
“We are doing all we can to help passengers, we are arranging flights to Glasgow and Edinburgh later this evening.” [Friday] to get them to their destination as quickly as possible and our team took care of them all the time and provided them with food vouchers while waiting for their new flight.
“We will also process the compensation due to them.
“The health of our customers is our top priority and we are very sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.”
Belfast International Airport has been contacted for comment.