American Airlines has recently been fined $50 million by the U.S. government for mishandling disabled passengers and damaging thousands of wheelchairs over a five-year period. The Transportation Department revealed that some wheelchair users were injured as a result of American Airlines’ negligence, although the exact number was not disclosed.
To address these issues, American Airlines has made significant investments in improving the handling of wheelchairs. The airline will receive a credit of $25 million, half of the civil penalty imposed, for these investments and compensation paid to affected passengers as per a consent order.
The incidents in question took place between 2019 and 2023 and were brought to light by three formal complaints from the Paralyzed Veterans of America. One particular incident at Miami International Airport, captured on video, showed workers mishandling a wheelchair, causing it to crash and skid across the concrete.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that American Airlines was not the only airline facing such issues and that similar investigations are ongoing with other airlines. He stressed that the mistreatment of travelers with disabilities, as observed with American Airlines, is not only undignified but also unsafe.
The CEO of Paralyzed Veterans of America, Carl Blake, commended the Department of Transportation for taking strong action to hold airlines accountable for jeopardizing the well-being of passengers with disabilities, especially wheelchair and scooter users. He expressed confidence that this enforcement would set a precedent for the entire airline industry.
In the period from 2019 to 2023, American Airlines mishandled over 10,760 wheelchairs and mobility scooters, according to official figures. Southwest Airlines had more incidents at over 11,100, while Spirit Airlines had the highest error rates in several years.
Despite the hefty fine imposed on American Airlines, the company has invested over $175 million this year in infrastructure, training, and other measures to enhance the travel experience for individuals with disabilities. They reported a reduction of more than 20% in the mishandling of wheelchairs and power scooters.
The recent penalty against American Airlines far exceeds previous fines issued to other airlines for similar violations. The Department of Transportation highlighted the significant number of incidents as a key factor in determining the amount of the fine. This includes instances of damaging wheelchairs or delaying their return to passengers after flights.
In response to these issues, the Transportation Department has proposed a rule to make it a violation of federal law for airlines to damage wheelchairs or fail to promptly return them to their owners. The rule would also mandate annual training for airline employees involved in handling wheelchairs or assisting passengers with disabilities. While the rule is still being finalized, Secretary Buttigieg did not provide a specific timeline for its completion.
