Edinburgh Airport owner fined after pensioner dies in ambulift fall

On 28 November 2023, James Young, 81, had just landed at the airport from Rhodes where he had been holidaying with his wife Anne. Mr Young and his wife, who has mobility issues, had been waiting for one of the airport’s ambulifts to help them disembark the aircraft shortly after 4pm.

Mr Young tried to pass hand luggage to a worker on the ground while the tail lift had not yet been lowered. It is believed as he leant against the safety rail, it swung open causing him to fall onto the ground below.

HSE found that the locking mechanism on the tail lift’s safety rail was misaligned, meaning it could open outwards if pressure was applied to it.

When the safety rail moved outwards from the lifting platform, an open edge was created, and it was through this that Mr Young fell.

Mr Young fell from this ambulift which was later found to have a fault. Photograph: iStock

Investigating HSE inspector Jurate Gruzaite, said it was clear that the fault on the ambulift had been to blame for the accident: “Edinburgh Airport Limited had a duty to ensure all its work equipment was maintained in an efficient state and in working order. The company failed in this duty and had a role in a family tragedy that unfolded the moment Mr and Mrs Young returned from holiday.”

Mr Young was examined at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where it was found he had sustained serious injuries. He subsequently died on 7 December because of these injuries.

“We can only hope this tragic incident is one the industry can learn from,” added Gruzaite.

Edinburgh Airport Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and
Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £80,000 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 10 June 2025.