US: New federal requirements show airlines damage thousands of wheelchairs each year

Now, for the first time, major commercial airlines must tell the Department of Transportation each month how often they gate-check wheelchairs and scooters, as well as how often passengers report those devices as damaged, lost, delayed or stolen. That requirement took effect in December, but some airlines reported challenges providing accurate figures that month. Between January and September – the latest month for which data is available – US carriers reported having mishandled at least 7,747 chairs. That's an average of 29 times a day. While it’s just 1.6% of the chairs and scooters checked on flights, dozens of travellers said that damage to their mobility aids can have significant medical, emotional and financial consequences. Some avoid flying altogether, saying the risks are too great. “They are essential mobility equipment. It’s important stuff,” said Ben Mattlin, a Los Angeles writer and power chair user. “God, if that many pets were injured every day, it'd be an uproar.” uckworth said the general public fails to grasp the severity of the situation when a wheelchair is damaged or lost. “These medical devices are essentially a part of a disabled person’s body,” Duckworth said. “Imagine if in a single year (that many) people had their legs broken by an airline as a result of flying. The effect is the same.” Story has more.<br/>