Heather Bennett told USA TODAY, “I fully expect that my wheelchair will continue to be damaged, and that’s a pretty big source of stress for me when I get on a plane.” Bennett is one of thousands of wheelchair users whose equipment was damaged while boarding a plane in 2023, and more than 30 who shared personal stories of such damage with USA TODAY this year. of disabled travelers.
According to the Ministry of Transport, as of September, there were 8,637 reported accidents involving damage to mobility equipment, representing about 1.4% of the total number of transports. Full year data for 2023 is expected to be released in early 2024. For comparison, airlines reported 8,348 mobile device damage incidents to the DOT through the end of September 2022. Airlines also transported almost 75,000 more mobility devices in 2023 compared to the previous year, although the numbers for 2023 have increased slightly so far.
Still, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told USA TODAY those numbers need to be significantly reduced.
“Any number greater than zero is not an acceptable number,” he said. “This doesn’t just impact your travels, it impacts your life.”
Bennett agrees: “Many people don’t realize that not only is the chair damaged, but the time you had to spend your life repairing it ended up being costly.” he said.
Buttigieg and accessibility advocates want to see improvements for airlines and are optimistic that regulatory changes being considered in 2024 could bring about some improvement.
Here’s what we learned throughout 2023 and what could happen in the new year and beyond.
What travelers will tell us in 2023
Almost everyone who shared their story with USA TODAY has uttered the phrase “breaking a wheelchair is like breaking a leg” at some point.
All travelers shared their frustration that airline employees seem to have little interest in how to handle mobility equipment, adding that airlines need to step up training for their employees.
Stephanie Gross, whose wheelchair was destroyed on an American Airlines flight just days before her wedding in July, admitted to USA TODAY that she still hasn’t recovered.
“I hope that a Christmas miracle will happen and the problem will be resolved by the end of the year. That would be really great, but we are running out of days,” she said. “Even if we file a swift lawsuit, it will still take another five months to fully recover and repair my wheelchair.”
Professional tennis player Andrew Bogdanov, whose wheelchair has been damaged many times while traveling to tournaments, said he was happy that his wheelchair was replaced quickly, but he said he was happy that his wheelchair was replaced quickly. Other accessibility issues are all too common on air travel, he added.
“That’s inconsistent with travel. That’s a whole other issue with my equipment and what they’re going to do with it,” he said. From airport to airport and even plane to plane, disabled travelers have no idea what to expect or whether they will arrive with medically necessary equipment in good working order. Bogdanov said a set of national standards for the handling of mobility devices could help make travelers and airline employees more prepared for any journey.
Alan T. Brown, director of new partner engagement at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, said his wheelchair was damaged on two recent trips and that better training is needed to improve accessibility in air travel. agreed that is the key.
“The people handling the baggage just want to keep the plane moving and don’t really care,” he said. “There’s got to be someone out there who can show you how to do it. If you don’t know, just ask.”
When Brown, who is quadriplegic and has used a wheelchair for 36 years, told USA TODAY, he was waiting for a technician to arrive to assess his ability to make a repair or replacement.
“It’s a whole mental deterioration. You travel for work. You know you have to get on a plane again. You’re already thinking about the future,” he said. “I should be able to board a plane whenever I want.”
Changes introduced by airlines and regulators in 2023
Buttigieg said he is excited about projects across the country aimed at improving the accessibility of airport terminals and is optimistic about regulatory updates put in place this year.
“Existing protections and enforcement against wheelchair damage are not commensurate with the scale of the problem,” he says. “We set out to create rules to ensure unprecedented safe accommodations for air travelers who use wheelchairs.”
Buttigieg also noted that new rules have been finalized that will eventually require most aircraft to have accessible restrooms.
“It’s going to take time, but it’s worth it,” he said.
A number of airlines have also announced accessibility improvements in 2023, including Southwest Airlines, which announced a Customer Accessibility Advisory Board in October, and other airlines that have already established such bodies. joined the company.
United Airlines announced it will install Braille placards on its planes and publish the cargo door dimensions of all its planes online.
“Individually and through our recent collaboration with the Department of Transportation, we are committed to improving accessibility and addressing the travel challenges faced by customers who use wheelchairs,” United spokesperson Charles Hobart said in a statement to USA TODAY. We are developing and delivering innovative solutions that address some of these issues.” . “Integrating accessibility into every decision we make is what drives us forward and is the right thing to do.”
American Airlines announced a number of accessibility improvements this year, including special wheelchair/scooter baggage tags to better track mobility devices through the system and alert ground staff to each device’s specific handling needs.
“We are especially focused on providing our team members with the tools and resources they need to properly handle and track our customers’ mobility aids,” American Airlines spokeswoman Amy Lawrence said in a statement. ” “We recognize how important it is to support the independence of our customers with disabilities while traveling, and we will continue to work hard to ensure a smooth experience for all of our customers. .”
The Delta Air Lines product proved the concept of securing a power chair in-flight and was praised by many supporters throughout the year. Although Delta Flight Products is a partner in the project, Delta itself is not involved in its development and has not yet committed to putting the seats onboard after approval.
Michele Irwin, founder and president of All Wheel Up, an advocacy group focused on ensuring wheelchair safety on planes, is thrilled to see the concept garner so much attention. He said there was. Nevertheless, she said it will be a long time before it is available to travelers because the Federal Aviation Administration has to approve this space product and the safety mechanisms that will ultimately be used on it. I warned you.
“This is a very complicated conversation,” Irwin said. “It won’t happen in two years.”
What travelers with disabilities can expect in 2024
It’s unlikely we’ll see any major structural improvements to aircraft accessibility in the new year, but that doesn’t mean nothing can happen.
Buttigieg emphasized that new regulations are being considered, including a private right of action that would allow disabled travelers to sue airlines that damage their equipment for the first time.
“If faced with different economic incentives, airlines would do a better job and be more engaged,” he said.
Irwin also noted that there is a lot going on behind the scenes to promote accessibility in air travel.
“I think the industry is putting its money where its mouth is. Some of these organizations have entire departments set up internally to address accessibility,” she said. “It’s slow, but the good news is the work is getting done and we’re starting to get some traction.”
What advocates hope for the future
For most advocates, an important first step toward improvement is increasing training for airline employees who handle mobility devices and interact with passengers with disabilities. Here are some of the things different organizations are promoting for 2024.
Improved training and on-board accessibility
“The people who are dealing with our bodies and our lives are the ones who don’t know how to do it…If you don’t strap us the way you should strap us, then you don’t strap us in your way. If it didn’t carry us, we might fall, even though it was supposed to carry us.” – Vincenzo Piscopo, President of the American Spinal Cord Association
“Going to the bathroom is just a basic human right,” Piscopo added. “The fact that it is not a priority for the airline industry is the biggest example of ableism in the airline industry.”
“For us, that means the people assisting you are trained by someone familiar with how to do it before they do the job, under the time pressure of loading luggage onto a plane. Aisle chairs are functional and have some understanding of the needs of disabled passengers who need to use aisle chairs… This means that people can be trained and learned in a safe way. It should be realized in the environment.” – Heather Ansley, Chief Policy Officer, Paralyzed Veterans Association
Focus on the dignity of people with disabilities over economic barriers
“We focus too much on the cost and difficulty of making these changes…We need to really emphasize the (positive) financial and economic impact that accessible business and leisure travel means. is needed.” – Kendra Davenport, President of Easter Seals
Supporters are all optimistic that the FAA reauthorization bill will be passed by Congress in the new year, with both the House and Senate versions of the bill aimed at making air travel more accessible. Contains clauses.
Timeline of reported incidents in 2023
Zach Wictor is a travel writer for USA TODAY based in New York. Please contact us at zwichter@usatoday.com.