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American Airlines Fined $50 Million by U.S. DOT for Mishandling Disabled Passengers' Wheelchairs

Oct 23, 2024, 03:50 PM

The U.S. Department of Transportation has fined American Airlines a record $50 million for mistreating passengers with disabilities. The airline failed to provide adequate wheelchair assistance and mishandled over 10,760 wheelchairs and mobility scooters between 2019 and 2023, leaving passengers without their mobility devices. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that American Airlines provided unsafe and undignified physical assistance to passengers, resulting in injuries. The fine is 25 times larger than the previous highest penalty for disability protection violations. American Airlines will pay $25 million over three years and was credited $25 million for investments to address the issues.