The United States government has imposed a $50 million fine on American Airlines for its failure to adequately assist passengers with disabilities.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced this significant penalty after an investigation uncovered multiple violations of laws designed to protect individuals with disabilities.
The investigation revealed instances of unsafe physical assistance that sometimes led to injuries and undignified treatment of wheelchair users.
According to regulations, airlines are required to promptly return wheelchairs and other mobility devices in the condition they were received and provide timely assistance for disabled passengers during boarding, disembarking, and while moving within airports. However, the DOT’s findings indicated “repeated failures to provide prompt wheelchair assistance.”
The New York Times reported that American Airlines mishandled thousands of wheelchairs, resulting in damages or delays in returning them, which left passengers without essential mobility devices.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of the fine, stating, “The era of tolerating poor treatment of airline passengers with disabilities is over. With this penalty, we are setting a new standard of accountability for airlines that violate the civil rights of passengers with disabilities.” He noted that the $50 million fine was intentionally set at a level exceeding the typical cost of doing business for airlines to prompt a shift in industry practices.
