Too fat to fly

A man who weighs 29 stone has been thrown off a plane because he was too fat to fly.

David Brown, 58, was due to fly to the Turkish resort of Altinkum with his wife Margaret, 53, but was shocked to find he could not fit in any of the plane's seats.

Mr Brown said he and his wife were left humiliated and their holiday ruined after he got on the flight at Newcastle International Airport.

He said he had warned Thomas Cook that he was 6ft 6in tall and weighed 29 stone but was told he could still fly.

The airline said it had offered Mr Brown a row of three seats at the front of the plane but he was unable to fit in any of them.

The couple then had to get off the plane, which was held up for 45 minutes, in front of other passengers.

Mr Brown, from Middlesbrough, said: "Everybody was looking at me, and everybody knew because of my weight I could not fit on the plane, and that was really making me feel bad."

He added: "I was just sweating and going all white. It was an experience that I don't want to go through again, or ever thought I would have to go through."

Mr Brown said they had paid £736 for the holiday and have since received a full refund from Thomas Cook.

He added: "I haven't given up hope that I can fly again."

Thomas Cook Airlines said the crew were unable to seat Mr and Mrs Brown in line with take-off safety regulations and the couple had to leave the plane.