Airlines including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United have joined forces to challenge a Department of Transportation rule that aims to treat wheelchair users with dignity. The rule, introduced by then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg last year, makes mishandling wheelchairs an automatic violation of the federal Air Carrier Access Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, claims the rule is “unlawful.” The rule was created with input from disability advocates like Samantha Jade Duràn, who herself experienced a damaged wheelchair due to airline carelessness in 2017. Duràn’s experience highlights the problem airlines face, damaging or losing thousands of wheelchairs annually.
In October last year, American Airlines was fined $50 million for mistreating disabled passengers, including those with damaged wheelchairs. The airline industry is now pushing back against this rule, claiming it will lead to increased costs and compliance issues. However, disability advocates argue that the rule is crucial in ensuring the dignity of wheelchair users.
The Department of Transportation’s response to the lawsuit remains unclear. However, previous statements from lawmakers like Sen. Tammy Duckworth suggest a strong support for accessibility legislation. If the airlines succeed in repealing the rule, it could undermine progress made towards making air travel more accessible for people with disabilities.
Source: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/airline-industry-wheelchair-lawsuit-transportation-department