A 13-year-old boy with Tourette’s syndrome was prevented from boarding a British Airways flight at Gatwick Airport after repeatedly shouting the word “bomb,” the family reported. The incident occurred on Saturday as Mason Entwistle and his family prepared to fly to Alicante, Spain.

Mason, from Harwich in Essex, involuntarily uttered the word several times while at the gate, according to his father, Martyn Entwistle. The family had informed British Airways of Mason’s condition before traveling, citing his anxiety about flying. Mason was wearing a sunflower disability lanyard and carried a letter confirming his diagnosis. Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, involuntary sounds or movements, known as tics, which can be exacerbated by stress or excitement.

After the outburst, British Airways staff refused to allow Mason and his family to board the flight. In footage of the exchange, a BA manager explained that the decision was based on a perceived security threat, not the boy’s disability. The manager stated that the refusal stemmed from repeated statements indicating a bomb threat, which raised concerns for the safety and welfare of passengers and crew.

Martyn Entwistle described the experience as traumatic, noting that Mason was visibly distressed and apologizing while on the floor. He said his wife, Gemma, and their daughter were also deeply upset. The family of ten had spent approximately £4,000 on the original flights and subsequently incurred an additional cost of £2,400 for alternative tickets with another carrier on Sunday. The 16-year-old daughter was permitted to travel with friends on the original flight.

Entwistle emphasized the importance of teaching his son that he can still enjoy activities like traveling despite his condition. “It’s about principle. I want to take him on holiday, he deserves to go on holiday,” he said.

British Airways described the situation as “extremely difficult, complex and distressing” and noted multiple factors contributed to the decision not to allow the group to fly. The family has expressed hope that the airline will learn from the incident to better handle similar situations in the future.