IN a landmark decision, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined American Airlines $50 million for mishandling passengers with disabilities.
A statement released by the Department on Wednesday, October 23, stated that American Airlines failed to provide safe, dignified, and prompt wheelchair assistance, and also mishandled the passengers’ wheelchairs.
“American (Airlines) had been one of the worst performers among U.S. airlines in terms of both the total number of wheelchairs and scooters mishandling claims and the rate of mishandling claims, and DOT’s investigation revealed a significant number of violations,” the Department said.
The DOT probed complaints by three members of the Paralysed Veterans of America and other passengers with disabilities who used the airline between 2019 and 2023. It found out that American Airline violated Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights
“Today’s enforcement action is 25 times larger than DOT’s previous largest airline penalty for violations of disability protections and sets a new precedent for how DOT will enforce against such violations going forward,” the Department noted.
According to the Department, the punishment goes beyond the cost of doing business to better hold airlines accountable for the mistreatment of passengers and change airline behaviour.
The DOT’s investigation into American Airlines uncovered cases of unsafe physical assistance that at times resulted in injuries and undignified treatment of wheelchair users, in addition to repeated failures to provide prompt wheelchair assistance.
“American (Airline) also mishandled thousands of wheelchairs by damaging them or delaying their return, leaving travellers without the device they need for mobility.”
The DOT regulations require airlines to timely return wheelchairs and other mobility devices in the condition they were received and to provide passengers with disabilities prompt assistance to get on and off aircraft including moving within the airport.
The Department also considered violations of these regulations for those travelling on domestic flights to be a failure to provide safe and adequate service.
The ICIR further reports that 18.1 million people with disabilities travelled by air in the US in 2021 alone.
Mishandling of passengers with disabilities transcends the US as there have been several reports exposing how the rights of persons with disabilities are abused at Nigerian airports.
For instance, in 2021, the Federal Government threatened to take legal action against airlines and other operators who failed to comply with the extant laws concerning persons with disabilities in the country.
It condemned the situation where it became difficult for some people to enjoy public facilities, especially at the airports.
The government issued the warning at an investigative hearing organised by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Disabilities on “The Need to investigative the alleged Violation Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act by the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria and Private Airline Operators.”
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2023. Contact him via email @ mfatunmole@icirnigeria.org