U.S. airlines damages wheelchairs more than you'd think
- Leslie Valle
- Sep 9, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 13, 2021
NORTHRIDGE, CA - Air Travel Consumer report finds 834 wheelchairs were damaged by U.S. airlines in July 2021.
In July 2021 Air Travel Consumer report found that 834 wheelchairs were damaged by U.S. airlines, this makes an average of 28 wheelchairs damaged a day. These wheelchairs are owned and used by people that need them to live their day to day lives and without them their mobility is taken away.
These incidents were reported as “mishandled” transported items from the US airlines according to the consumer report.
Very few airlines have policies for the carrying of wheelchairs and ADA does not require airlines to let passengers fly in their personal wheelchairs. It was not up until December 2018 that airlines were not required to report lost or stolen damaged wheelchairs or any other durable medical equipment.
This changed when Illinois Senator and double amputee, Tammy Duckworth, added a policy Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act requiring airlines to report wheelchair breaks or other medical devices.
"Wheelchairs should be treated like a human limb because they're my legs," says Sen. Duckworth in a video call with Inside News.
The report also requires the inclusion of wheelchairs or scooters to be lost, stolen or delayed in the process of being checked and stored.
Currently, most passengers who need wheelchair service are transferred from their personal wheelchair to a narrow designed airline wheelchair. Their own customized wheelchair is then checked or stored in a cabin.
Wheelchairs for everyday use are very expensive and can cost on average between $1,000-$2,000.
Matt Wetherbee, wheelchair owner said, “[the airline] didn’t load [my wheelchair] to the cargo because they said there was too much other luggage.”
The report also shows a modification for the most feasible location for a personal wheelchair would be toward the front of the aircraft near the boarding door, this gives an adequate space for the need to maneuver down the aisle.
This modification however can be costly to the airline company, the aircraft would have to remove two rows at the front of the plane. These rows are dedicated to business or first class which are some of the airlines top customers.
Removing rows can also cost the premium capacity of the plane. Changes would cost about $1 million a year the airline companies.
By, Leslie Valle
Contributions from The Washington Post, Business Insider and Transportation.gov
Audio by Leslie Valle
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