An Arizona woman has filed a complaint against Dallas-based Southwest Airlines after the carrier damaged a basketball team’s wheelchairs amid a cross-country trip for a national championship earlier this year . Months later, the frustrated woman is alleging the low-cost airline violated federal laws regarding the treatment of disabled passengers. The complaint accuses Southwest of having a poor deplaning process and being the subject of a series of incidents at three airports.
It comes after American Airlines was fined $50 million for mishandling wheelchairs and not adequately assisting passengers with disabilities. Damaging wheelchairs and failing to compensate Myranda Shields, who is a member of the Ability360 Wheelchair basketball team, filed the complaint along with disability rights organizations on October 9th, according to Phoenix local NBC affiliate 12 News . Should employees opt to depart the company, they will have to resign by the end of the year.
The complaint calls out Southwest to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and references the 1986 Air Carrier Access Act. It reportedly says Southwest damaged three wheelchairs during a “catastrophic deplaning process.” It also accuses the airline of not compensating one passenger for damaging his wheelchair.
A series of mishaps, delays, and inconveniences are also reportedly outlined in the complaint. They were said to have been experienced by wheelchair users who represented three teams while traveling throug.
