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American Airlines plane landing at San Francisco International Airport.
CNN
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American Airlines is video A video posted to TikTok shows a baggage handler releasing a passenger’s wheelchair and sliding down a jet bridge chute, causing the wheelchair to hit a metal barrier and flip over onto the airport tarmac. ing.
The post received millions of views and brought new attention to the travel plight of millions of Americans with disabilities. According to the Paralyzed Veterans of America nonprofit organization, More than 31 wheelchairs They were damaged, delayed, or lost by airline employees every day between 2019 and 2022.
Hayley Dyrdahl, the user who posted the TikTok video, said she recorded the incident. Sunday At Miami International Airport “After I saw them do this with the first two wheelchairs and laugh.” She told CNN she saw suitcases getting similar treatment.
In the video, as the first man lets go of his wheelchair, another baggage handler on the ground on the other side of the chute, wearing an American Airlines vest, backs up. The wheelchair slides and hits the fence, causing it to flip over. The handler then loads the wheelchair into the luggage cart. It is unclear whether the wheelchair was damaged.
For people who use wheelchairs, arriving at the airport only to find out that the equipment they need to get around has been damaged can be a real nightmare.
Dyrdal, who often comes into contact with people in wheelchairs through her work, told CNN that many families have “expressed concerns about how their wheelchairs are handled while traveling.”
“It was very sad to see this happen several times in a row and see how valid their concerns were,” she said.
American Airlines said in a statement: “We recognize how important it is to support the independence of our customers with disabilities by ensuring the proper handling of their mobility devices during their travels. This visual is very concerning. We are currently gathering further details so that our team can address them. We continue to work to improve the handling of assistive technology across our network.”
The company said it is working to improve training for employees on handling mobility devices and installing wheelchair transfers and elevators at high-traffic airports, which will reduce the risk of injury. No timeline was provided.
in post Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg called the incident “totally unacceptable,” and the department issued the following statement: Bill of Rights for Passengers with Disabilitiesinvestigate.
In August 2023, American Airlines mishandled 226 wheelchairs and scooters. According to the latest available data, the handling rate on airplanes was 2.24 cases per 100 aircraft. released According to the Ministry of Transport. According to the data, it ranks 13th out of 15 major U.S. carriers.
Data is trending in the wrong direction for airlines. In 2022, American Airlines’ wheelchair and scooter damage, delay, and loss rate was 2.00 per 100. DOT statistics display.
The DOT announced in September that as part of an agreement with the agency, United Airlines would “introduce flight filters in its booking engine to help passengers who use wheelchairs find flights that will accommodate and safely transport their wheelchairs.” Announced.
DOT also said it is laying the groundwork for a potential policy that would give passengers the ability to: while in a wheelchair By Airplane.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who uses a wheelchair, called the video “shocking, but a testament to my own travel experiences and those of others who rely on mobility devices to get the most out of their lives.” Given that, it’s not surprising.”
“Since we passed a law requiring airlines to publicly disclose the frequency with which they damage their mobility devices, far too many wheelchair users have arrived at their destination only to have their wheelchairs broken,” Duckworth said in a statement. “Data shows that in many cases, it is irreparable.” “It is completely unacceptable to treat critical medical equipment in this manner.”
Duckworth authored a bill in 2018 that would require the DOT to issue monthly reports on damage to wheelchairs and scooters, and continues to work on federal legislation to improve travel for passengers with disabilities. .
In September, Duckworth and Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota Onboard mobility aids improve lives and empower everyone (MOBILE) Act Address the challenges faced by passengers using mobility aids.
“While DOT is currently required to report the number of damaged wheelchairs each month, it does not assess data on the frequency or type of damage to manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, or scooters,” Duckworth and Thune ( both committee members) said in a statement. This was announced by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
The bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to notify airlines of proposed rulemakings that would require them to publish cargo hold dimensions. It also asks the agency to consider whether passengers can use wheelchairs inside the main cabin.
Additionally, “If it is determined that wheelchair seating is technically feasible on board the aircraft, (the Secretary) will evaluate the economic and financial feasibility of accommodating passengers in wheelchairs in the main cabin during the flight.” “It needs to be evaluated,” he said.
Tennessee Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen and Minnesota Republican Rep. Pete Stover have introduced similar bills in the House.
CNN’s David Williams, Ross Levitt and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report.