At Flight-delayed.co.uk, we try to keep you up to date with all flight-related news and information. While it might be a stretch, in this blog we are going to tell you all about a man who successfully ate an airplane! In 1950, Michael Lotito (pictured below) was born in Grenoble, France. When he was a teenager, he developed an eating disorder known as Pica. Individuals diagnosed with Pica have a persistent desire to eat substances that have no nutritional value such as glass, dirt or metal. Don’t be scared nonetheless, it’s not like the next time your at the airport the crew will tell you that you Ryanair flight has been delayed due to a man biting the aircraft on the tarmac.

He first began publicly performing at 16, showcasing his remarkable ability to consume objects many wouldn’t think possible. Over time, this talent led to his stage name of ‘Monsieur Mangetout’ or ‘Mr Eat-All’.

Before we continue with the story, there's something very relevant for the current times. Please make sure that you know what your rights are during this pandemic.



Coronavirus: What are my rights when a flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled because of the coronavirus oubtreak, you are entitled to a complete refund of your ticket. European Regulation EC 261/2004 obliges the airline to refund the full price of the ticket within 7 days in case of a cancelled flight. Currently, many airlines and travel agencies only offer vouchers that can be used to book a new flight in the future. However, this voucher policy is not in compliance with European legislation.

Unfortunately, we see too often that airlines still fail to comply with the legal obligations. Passengers are forced to accept vouchers when they are actually entitled to a refund of their fare. Flight-Delayed.co.uk will be happy to help you claim the full refund. From submitting the claim to taking the airline to the courts in the event of non-payment.

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How on earth did he eat a plane?

Under normal circumstances, consumption of metals and glass (Monsieur Mangetout’s speciality) would be very dangerous and difficult to digest. However, doctors noted that Mr Lotito had a very thick lining around his stomach and intestines, giving him an ability to consume like no one before him! Furthermore, Monsieur Mangetout seemed to be unaffected by consuming poisonous metals.

Monsieur Mangetout eats a plane

While Monsieur Mangetout may not have eaten a Boeing 747 or any gigantic passenger plane, he did still eat a whopping 9 tons of metal. The plane of choice was a Cessna 150 airplane, pictured above. He was able to consume the aircraft over a period of two years between 1978-1980. Other notable items he ate throughout his career include: Bicycles, shopping carts, beds, chandeliers, television sets, a small section of the Eiffel tower and a coffin.

Monsieur Mangetout/ Michael Lotito sadly died of natural causes in 2007. It seems that his eating habits never actually impacted his health. However, following in the footsteps of this consuming crusader are not recommended. RIP Monsieur Mangetout, the first person to have a coffin inside, rather than the other way around. Thank you for reading and please do not try this at home! Or the airport for that matter. We are sure that Air France won't appreciate it if you go trying to eat their newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner!

Claiming compensation for a flight delay

At Flight-delayed.co.uk we make sure that your airline treats you within your rights in the event of a delay. If you have been delayed within the last 6 years you may be entitled to as much as 600 euros! To see if you are entitled to compensation you can use our free flight checker, this is completely free of charge and non-committal. If you do decide to submit a claim with us, this is on a no-win-no-fee basis, so you can’t lose money!

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