The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a $50 million penalty against American Airlines for serious violations of the laws protecting airline passengers with disabilities between 2019 and 2023. DOT’s investigation into American Airlines uncovered cases of:
- Unsafe physical assistance that at times led to injuries and undignified treatment of wheelchair users,
- Repeated failures to provide prompt wheelchair assistance, and
- Mishandling thousands of wheelchairs by damaging them or delaying their return, leaving travelers without the devices they need for mobility.
For more information, see the U.S. DOT press release.