American Airlines fined $1 million for mistreatment of passengers with disabilities

United States Government Fined American Airlines $50 million for not providing adequate wheelchair assistance to passengers with disabilities and destroying thousands of wheelchairs For five years.

The Ministry of Transport said on Wednesday “In some cases” wheelchair users were injuredBut he did not give a number.

For its part, the airline indicated that it has made significant investments to improve handling of wheelchairs.

The airline will receive a credit of $25 million, or half its civil penalty, for those investments and compensation paid to affected passengers.in accordance with the consent order.

The incidents raised by the Ministry of Transport occurred between 2019 and 2023. The investigation was prompted in part by three formal complaints filed against the Americans by the Paralyzed Veterans Association of America. Investigators also obtained video of an incident that occurred at Miami International Airport last year. Workers lowered a wheelchair down the baggage ramp. It hit the bottom of the chute and flipped over He slid across the concrete.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said American Airlines “appears to be one of the worst offenders,” but… The problems the researchers found “are not limited to just one airline.”“.

The department said The company is conducting similar investigations on other airlinesbut he did not name them.

“The era of tolerating mistreatment of wheelchair users on board aircraft is overButtigieg told reporters.

Buttigieg said Americans’ mistreatment of travelers with disabilities is “not only insulting but also unsafe.”

Carl Blake, executive director of Paralyzed Veterans of America, praised the administration’s action. “We are pleased to see the Department of Transportation issue such a strong statement on how to hold airlines accountable for endangering the safety of passengers with disabilities, especially wheelchair and scooter users,” Blake said in a statement.

“We are confident that this unprecedented application will demonstrate to the entire aviation sector that passengers with mobility impairments deserve to travel with the same level of safety and dignity as everyone else.”

According to Ministry of Transport figures. Between 2019 and 2023, American Airlines mishandled more than 10,760 wheelchairs and mobility scooters.. Only Southwest Airlines, with more than 11,100, had more incidents.

American said it invested more than $175 million this year in infrastructure, training and other measures to improve the travel experience for people with disabilities.