Disabled Traveler Flying From France To Us Sues American Airlines For Wheelchair Mishandling And Violation Of Disability Rights

Published on August 11, 2025 |

A disabled traveler is suing American Airlines for mishandling her wheelchair and violating her disablement rights. The incident, which occurred during a formation from Paris to Chicago successful June 2025, highlights a troubling shape of neglect faced by passengers pinch disabilities. According to nan lawsuit, American Airlines grounded to return nan traveler’s wheelchair to nan gate upon arrival, leaving her stranded connected nan aircraft. Furthermore, she was denied entree to a Complaint Resolution Officer, a usurpation of federal regulations designed to protect passengers pinch disabilities. The personification walking from France to US uses a powered wheelchair and claims that these actions caused important physical and emotional distress. This suit not only seeks compensation for nan harm caused but besides intends to bring attraction to nan broader rumor of really airlines grip passengers pinch disabilities. As nan lawsuit unfolds, it serves arsenic a important reminder of nan request for amended compliance pinch disability rights successful aerial travel.

The Lawsuit: Allegations Against American Airlines

On June 12, 2025, a female walking pinch her hubby and boy from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) encountered aggregate obstacles that near her abnormal and stranded. The passenger, who uses a powered wheelchair owed to mobility restrictions, faced important difficulties during nan check-in process. She claims that American Airlines’ online check-in strategy malfunctioned, barring her from checking successful and forcing her to do truthful astatine nan airport. This, she argues, caused “physical and physiological burden,” disrupted aesculapian routines, and led to unnecessary fatigue.

However, nan issues did not extremity there. Upon presence astatine Chicago O’Hare, nan traveler was informed that her wheelchair, a civilization medicine device, would not beryllium returned to nan gross but was alternatively sent to baggage claim. As personification incapable to usage replacement seating, this near her stranded successful nan aircraft, waiting for her wheelchair to beryllium retrieved. This hold lasted for astir an hour, during which she had to amended formation attendants connected nan rules governing nan return of wheelchairs to passengers who are non-ambulatory.

The Lack of Access to a Complaint Resolution Officer

Another awesome facet of nan title is nan airline’s nonaccomplishment to supply entree to a Complaint Resolution Officer (CRO). According to regulations group distant by nan U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), airlines must person a CRO disposable to reside disability-related complaints astatine each locations, including overseas airports. The traveler alleges that alternatively of gathering pinch a CRO, she was redirected to a voicemail inbox. This nonaccomplishment to supply due support further aggravated nan situation, contributing to nan affectional and beingness distress she experienced.

Failure to Follow Federal Regulations

The suit claims that American Airlines’ actions bespeak a systemic rumor successful nan airline’s curen of disabled passengers. Despite regulations that instruction nan return of wheelchairs straight to nan craft door, American allegedly diverted nan wheelchair to baggage claim owed to its weight. The airline’s ineligible consequence to this business acknowledged that specified incidents are “not uncommon,” efficaciously admitting to non-compliance pinch national law.

In summation to her lawsuit, nan traveler received a consequence from nan DOT that highlighted American Airlines’ nonaccomplishment to comply pinch nan very regulations designed to protect abnormal passengers. This admittance and nan airline’s insufficient connection of a $75 recreation credit are cardinal to nan lawsuit, which seeks damages for nan symptom and suffering caused by nan airline’s actions.

A History of Mishandling Wheelchairs: A Pattern of Neglect

This incident is not an isolated 1 for American Airlines. In precocious 2024, nan hose was fined $50 million for its repeated nonaccomplishment to supply capable assistance to passengers pinch wheelchairs. The DOT investigation uncovered galore cases betwixt 2019 and 2023 successful which American Airlines grounded to supply timely and safe assistance to abnormal passengers, resulting successful beingness injuries and affectional distress. Moreover, nan mishandling of wheelchairs and delays successful their return to passengers’ gates were recovered to beryllium predominant occurrences.

Despite nan good and nan heightened consciousness of nan issue, nan suit alleges that American Airlines continues to grounds a blatant disregard for national regulations. The complainant’s lawsuit illustrates really this negligence extends beyond isolated incidents and represents a broader nonaccomplishment successful nan airline’s expertise to accommodate abnormal passengers.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Case Matters

This lawsuit highlights a broader rumor wrong nan hose industry regarding nan curen of abnormal passengers. While it’s easy to disregard lawsuits of this quality arsenic overly litigious, nan reality is that abnormal travelers look regular challenges that astir group cannot moreover statesman to understand. Accessibility regulations beryllium to guarantee that each passengers, sloppy of their beingness abilities, tin recreation pinch dignity and safety. However, arsenic this lawsuit demonstrates, galore airlines still neglect to meet these standards.

By bringing this suit forward, nan traveler intends to clasp American Airlines accountable for its actions and, potentially, punctual systemic alteration wrong nan hose industry. The lawsuit besides serves arsenic a reminder of nan value of compliance pinch nan Air Carrier Access Act and nan captious domiciled that Complaint Resolution Officers play successful addressing disability-related grievances.

Image Credit: American Airlines