American Airlines' $50 Million Fine: Addressing Wheelchair Access Issues
American Airlines Fined for Wheelchair Accessibility Issues
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has imposed a $50 million fine on American Airlines for mistreating passengers with disabilities. This penalty stems from a range of complaints alleging improper physical assistance provided to customers using wheelchairs, leading to reported injuries between 2019 and 2023.
DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated, “The era of tolerating poor treatment of airline passengers with disabilities is over.” Following a thorough review of complaints and footage documenting mishandling incidents, DOT aims to set higher standards for airlines in treating disabled passengers.
Details of the Fine
As part of the ruling, American Airlines must pay $25 million to U.S. Treasury and allocate an additional $25 million for investment in equipment and systems to reduce the occurrence of wheelchair damages. This includes:
- Implementing a systemwide wheelchair tagging system
- Establishing a hub control center for better coordination
- Compensating affected passengers during the investigation timeline
American Airlines claims to have spent $175 million this year on initiatives to enhance services for passengers using mobility devices but denies any legal wrongdoing, entering the agreement solely for settlement purposes.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.