Disabled person claims American Airlines broke 2 wheelchairs in 3 weeks.

• After destroying a man’s wheelchair, American Airlines damaged its replacement.
• The total cost of the John Morris wheelchair is $65,000.
• Although the airline apologized, Morris said, “an apology doesn’t solve the problem.”

An American Airlines passenger says the carrier destroyed his wheelchair and severely damaged the replacement seat less than three weeks ago.

On July 9, John Morris’ electric wheelchair was loaded onto a flight from his home in Gainesville, Florida to Charlotte, NC by American Airlines staff, an insider told Insider.

Damaged on a previous American flight, the frame was buckled, the wheel was broken, and now it has stopped lighting.

Morris, an accessible travel consultant and founder of the travel blog WheelchairTravel.org, admitted that the damage to his $40,000 wheelchair was an accident. He was forced to delay his journey when he found a replacement seat.

The airline offered Morris two loan seats. “It’s not designed for a full-time wheelchair user,” explains one Morris. Another said, “Maybe it’s ten years old and I lack the qualities I need to prevent issues with stress on my body.”

As a result, Morris bought a new one that cost $35,000 and had to fly to South Florida to buy it.

But after returning to Gainesville with the new seat on July 26, again on American Airlines, he discovered that the new seat was also damaged.

“The damage is extensive. It’s bent in several places, the joystick is loose and won’t stay in place, there are scratches and tears on the fabric,” he explained.

Morris, 32, now struggles to control the chair and says he has injured himself.

The airline hopes to cover the damaged seat and the repairs needed to replace it.

In a statement to Insider, American Airlines said, “We sincerely apologize for the injury to Mr. Morris’ wheelchair while traveling with us, and our team is working to make his next trip a better experience.” Our team has reached out to resolve the issues and apologize. “

An immeasurable burden.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Morris, 32, of being in a wheelchair. “I knew right away what the next few months were going to be like, I wouldn’t have a device that would give me mobility and a device that would give me the opportunity to participate in society and do everything I do in my life,” he said.

“The burden on disabled people in their wheelchairs can last for months or more – it’s truly immeasurable.”

Morris is expected to spend up to 80 hours solving this ordeal.

In an email to Insider, Senator Tammy Duckworth said, “We never accept when airlines break the leg of 1 in 65 passengers, but that’s what happens when 1 in 65 wheelchairs are damaged by airlines.”

As I know from my own experience, when an airline damages a wheelchair, it’s more than a simple inconvenience – it’s a complete loss of mobility and freedom of movement. We can’t land until every airline recognizes our wheelchairs as they are – not just luggage, but complex medical equipment.

Responding to the airline’s apology, Morris told INSIDER that “an apology won’t solve the problem” and called for new policies and a “permanent solution” to the frequent abuses of people with disabilities flying.

“I’m a top frequent flyer in American’s loyalty program, I’m a Platinum Executive member, but I’ve never had a real conversation with anyone in any position at American Airlines,” says Morris, who writes about the trip. He wanted a “seat at the table” for himself and others with disabilities.

According to the Department of Transport, an average of 35.8 wheelchairs are broken or damaged every day.

In the year In November 2021, disability advocate and wheelchair user Engracia Figueroa died after United destroyed her wheelchair. She got wounds on the replaced chairs, which infected her with the virus and led to her death.