The Transportation Department said this week that “in some cases,” wheelchair users were injured, but it did not give a number.
American said it has made significant investments to improve the handling of wheelchairs. The airline will be credited $25 million, or half of its civil penalty, for those investments and compensation paid to affected passengers, according to a consent order.
The incidents raised by the Transportation Department occurred between 2019 and 2023.
The investigation was prompted in part by three formal complaints the Paralyzed Veterans of America filed against American.
Investigators also seized on video of an incident at Miami International Airport last year. Workers slid a wheelchair down a baggage ramp. It crashed into the bottom of the chute, flipped over and skittered across the concrete.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said American Airlines “appeared to be one of the worst offenders,” but the problems that investigators found “are not confined to one airline.” He said the department is conducting similar investigations into other airlines, but he would not name them.
“The era of tolerating poor treatment of wheelchair users on airplanes is over,” Buttigieg declared to reporters.
This story is from the October 25, 2024 edition of AppleMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 25, 2024 edition of AppleMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
AFTER DISASTERS, PEOPLE ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO SCAMS. HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
During natural disasters like wildfires and floods, scammers often emerge to prey on victims.
START TECH TIP: THE NEW YEAR WITH A CLEAN INBOX
The new year is always a good time to make a fresh start — including with your email inbox. To kick off 2025 with a clean slate, why not clear out all those unnecessary and unwanted messages?
SUPREME COURT SEEMS LIKELY TO UPHOLD A LAW THAT COULD BAN TIKTOK IN THE U.S.ON JAN. 19
The Supreme Court seemed likely to uphold a law that would ban TikTok in the United States beginning Jan. 19 unless the popular social media program is sold by its China-based parent company.
TIKTOK COULD BE BANNED THIS MONTH.HERE'S WHAT USERS CAN DO TO PREPARE
TikTok has cemented itself as a quintessential entertainment app, offering everything from funny skits and makeup tutorials to social commentary and news.
AMAZON IS ENDING ITS 'TRY BEFORE YOU BUY' OPTION FOR PRIME MEMBERS
Amazon is saying goodbye to “Try Before You Buy.”
CAN AI HELP HUMANS UNDERSTAND ANIMALS AND RECONNECT WITH NATURE? A NONPROFIT RESEARCH LAB THINKS SO
Peeps trickle out of a soundproof chamber as its door opens. Female zebra finches are chattering away inside the microphone-lined box. The laboratory room sounds like a chorus of squeaky toys.
AGING WELL MEANS HAVING GOOD BALANCE.HERE'S HOW TO PRIORITIZE IT
Taking a shower. Grocery shopping. Moving around the kitchen. Getting dressed. The underappreciated link between these mundane activities is good balance, which geriatricians say is key to maintaining an independent lifestyle as we age.
NASA PROPOSES CHEAPER AND QUICKER WAY TO GET MARS ROCKS AND SOIL TO EARTH
NASA is pitching a cheaper and quicker way of getting rocks and soil back from Mars, after seeing its original plan swell to $11 billion.
ELON MUSK SAYS A THIRD PATIENT GOT A NEURALINK BRAIN IMPLANT. THE WORK IS PART OF A BOOMING FIELD
Elon Musk said a third person has received an implant from his brain-computer interface company Neuralink, one of many groups working to connect the nervous system to machines.
GOOGLE FACES MORE SCRUTINY AS UK WATCHDOG FLEXES NEW DIGITAL COMPETITION POWERS
Britain's competition watchdog flexed new digital market powers for the first time with an investigation into Google's search and search ad businesses.
