Gatwick Airport has apologised to a paralysed passenger who was left waiting for assistance for more than 90 minutes after landing.

Victoria Brignell, who is paralysed from the neck down, was pictured sitting alone on an empty plane at the London airport despite having reminded staff that she would be on the flight.

Her situation was highlighted by her friend, the journalist Sonia Sodha, who tweeted a photo of Victoria sitting in her seat in an otherwise empty plane.

A while later, Ms Sodha tweeted again to say her friend had been been assisted off the plane – but by the new crew members, not the assistance team.

Ms Brignell told the BBC: “I booked the help three months in advance, I reminded them two weeks ago, and still I didn’t get the service that I should expect to have.”

Gatwick said her treatment was ‘unacceptable’.