Posted on 10/23/2024 8:31:05 AM PDT by DFG
The U.S. government fined American Airlines $50 million for failing to provide wheelchair assistance to passengers with disabilities and damaging thousands of wheelchairs over a five-year period.
The Transportation Department said Wednesday that “in some cases,” wheelchair users were injured, but it did not give a number.
American said it has made significant investments to improve the handling of wheelchairs. The airline will be credited $25 million, or half of its civil penalty, for those investments and compensation paid to affected passengers, according to a consent order.
The incidents raised by the Transportation Department occurred between 2019 and 2023.
The investigation was prompted in part by three formal complaints the Paralyzed Veterans of America filed against American.
Investigators also seized on video of an incident at Miami International Airport last year. Workers slid a wheelchair down a baggage ramp. It crashed into the bottom of the chute, flipped over and skittered across the concrete.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said American Airlines “appeared to be one of the worst offenders,” but the problems that investigators found “are not confined to one airline.” He said the department is conducting similar investigations into other airlines, but he would not name them.
“The era of tolerating poor treatment of wheelchair users on airplanes is over,” Buttigieg declared to reporters.
From 2019 through 2023, American mishandled more than 10,760 wheelchairs and mobility scooters, according to Transportation Department figures. Only Southwest Airlines, at more than 11,100, had more incidents. Spirit Airlines had the highest percentage of errors in several of the years, according to the department.
American said it has invested more than $175 million this year on infrastructure, training and other steps to improve the travel experience for people with disabilities.
(Excerpt) Read more at wfaa.com ...
Ha, back in the 70’s - late 80’s other airlines called them Jesus Christ airlines since they thought their poop didn’t stink.
In my days of travel....
The big fatties that exploit the wheelchair handlers are the ones who need fined. I have seen the most blatant and disgusting abuse of the system to; get pushed to the front of all lines, get pushed around by a servant, have servants carry their bags, get free upgrades, and most have terrible attitudes. Not all not all not all. But most I ever saw were simply being lazy and knew first class treatment would be given free.
The fines will probably be paid to a Dim PAC.
And their travel companions.
Fatties should fly with the luggage down below.
I don’t know why American was singled out for special attention. All airlines hire from the same labor pool: chimps, orangs and gorillas.
Oh yeah? Who gets the money?
These fines really are just legalized shakedowns, aren’t they.
I despise our government. I’d leave if I could.
It’s a start.
Airlines farm out assisting wheelchair users to the lowest bidder.
If they destroy a power wheelchair, they can’t be sued for the damages, and worse yet, a disabled person who NEEDS that wheelchair is left with whatever POS manual wheelchair the airline gives them.
I know firsthand!!!!
Where should shitheels fly?
They also ought to have to pay $50 extra for every segment. All those wheelchair pushers have to be paid. And us ambulatory folk are paying for their (mostly) abuse.
50 million? Only a sick government would fo that
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