Low-cost airline, easyJet, has said that it was simply adhering to safety regulations after it was accused of not allowing disabled passengers on board its aircraft unaccompanied. Dominique Bussereau, the French transport minister, has ordered an inquiry into the situation. He said that the airline should implement procedures on a case by case basis just as other companies are required to do.

The minister added that if easyJet was to continue discriminating against disabled customers, then the strongest possible sanctions should be applied. The French civilian aviation authority has been charged with conducting an investigation into the matter.

EasyJet claims that any unaccompanied disabled passenger must be able to comply with safety measures in the case of an emergency. According to the company’s website, these include being able to get to an emergency exit without assistance, put on a life jacket, use an oxygen mask and undo a seatbelt.

A spokesman for the airline has issued a statement in which he claimed that European safety regulations require that any passenger must be able to exit an aircraft within a period of 90 seconds. He added that this was why the carrier required disabled passengers to be accompanied by an able bodied partner who would be able to assist in an emergency.

The spokesman went on to say that easyJet was currently in discussions with the French authorities to find a viable solution which would not compromise the safety of any of its customers. Bussereau said that easyJet should not be able to use safety regulations as a defence for its discrimination.