The Biden administration has proposed new regulations to crack down on the mishandling of wheelchairs and scooters used by disabled passengers on commercial airline flights, an issue that has been steadily getting worse in recent years.
The proposal from the U.S. Department of Transportation would make it easier for the government to levy fines against airlines of up to $125,000 per incident when wheelchairs and scooters are damaged or delayed in being returned to passengers. It would also require airlines to provide annual training for employees who handle wheelchairs and lift disabled passengers.
The aim is to give airlines greater financial incentive to treat disabled passengers and their mobility devices with more care through the threat of larger fines. It also establishes the right of passengers to use their preferred vendor to repair or replace damaged wheelchairs, with the airline covering the cost.
“The large number of damaged wheelchairs reflects a culture where this is just treated as part of doing business,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told reporters. “There is going to be this risk that if something happens to your chair, and that’s too bad.”
A Growing Problem for Disabled Travelers
According to government data, major U.S. airlines mishandled 11,527 wheelchairs and scooters in 2022, up 13% from the prior year. That’s an average of over 30 mobility devices damaged or delayed per day.
For many disabled travelers, their wheelchairs and scooters are vital mobility aids that allow them to travel independently. When the devices are damaged or delayed, it can leave passengers stranded without an ability to get around the airport or their destination.
Advocates for disabled passengers have been urging airlines to be more careful for years. They say far too many wheelchairs, which can be customized for an individual’s disability, are treated as checked luggage rather than critical medical equipment.
New Financial Incentives for Airlines
Under existing federal rules, mishandling a wheelchair is technically considered a violation of the Air Carrier Access Act. But bringing an enforcement action requires lengthy investigations, and fines have been rare.
The proposal aims to make the penalty process more straightforward in cases of clear-cut wheelchair damage or delay. Regulators would simply need to show that a mobility device was mishandled in order to issue a fine, rather than having to prove intent or negligence.
Airlines would still have the right to appeal any fine. But disability advocates hope the threat of easier and larger penalties will finally get airlines to pay more attention.
“If higher fines or more frequent use of fines by the Department of Transportation will accomplish that goal, then we’re going to be supportive of that,” said Paul Melmeyer of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Better Training for Airline Employees
Another key part of the proposal is the requirement for airlines to annually train employees who handle wheelchairs and lift disabled passengers on proper techniques.
Airline workers such as baggage handlers often have to quickly move many wheelchairs and scooters on and off planes. Proper training on how to carefully operate and stow the devices could help reduce inadvertent damage.
Flight attendants also must know how to correctly assist passengers into aisle chairs and their own seats. The training requirement aims to ensure they have full knowledge of how to handle passengers’ particular disabilities and equipment.
Pushing the Industry Forward
While the proposed regulations have been praised by disability advocates, they acknowledge it’s only one step forward. The ultimate goal is for airlines to allow passengers to remain in their own wheelchairs for entire flights. But that would require extensive and costly modifications to aircraft.
“The reality is that is going to take years,” Secretary Buttigieg said.
In the meantime, the administration believes stricter fines and better employee education can create the urgent improvements needed in how airlines handle wheelchairs today.
By laying out clear financial consequences for mishandling mobility devices and requiring hands-on training, the government hopes to see air travel become much more accessible for the millions of Americans with disabilities.
