Disabled UK journalist crawls off flight after airline fails to provide wheelchair
PTC News Desk: A British journalist, who lost his legs while reporting from a conflict zone in the Middle East in 2004, faced a distressing ordeal on a LOT Polish Airlines flight when he was forced to crawl across the cabin floor due to the airline's failure to provide onboard wheelchair facilities.
Frank Gardner, a veteran BBC correspondent renowned for his coverage of global conflicts, was returning from Warsaw when the incident occurred. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gardner recounted the "shocking" situation he encountered while attempting to use the restroom during the flight. Upon requesting assistance, he was informed by the crew that LOT Polish Airlines does not supply onboard wheelchairs, a policy that left him with no option but to crawl to the lavatory.
Wow. It’s 2024 and I’ve just had to crawl along the floor of this LOT Polish airline to get to the toilet during a flight back from Warsaw as “we don’t have onboard wheelchairs. It’s airline policy”. If you’re disabled and you can’t walk this is just discriminatory. pic.twitter.com/aFuxo89DR5 — Frank Gardner (@FrankRGardner) September 30, 2024
“Wow. It’s 2024 and I’ve just had to crawl along the floor of this LOT Polish airline to get to the toilet during a flight back from Warsaw as ‘we don’t have onboard wheelchairs. It’s airline policy’. If you’re disabled and you can’t walk, this is just discriminatory,” Gardner expressed in his post.
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While Gardner voiced his frustration at the airline's policies, he was careful to acknowledge the efforts of the cabin crew, who, he noted, were as helpful and apologetic as possible under the circumstances. “In fairness to the cabin crew, they were as helpful and apologetic as they could be. Not their fault; it’s the airline. Won’t be flying LOT again until they join the 21st century,” he added.
Gardner’s career has taken him to some of the most perilous regions around the world. In 2004, while reporting from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he was ambushed by Al-Qaeda gunmen, which resulted in significant injuries and partial paralysis.
The incident sparked widespread empathy on social media, with users expressing their disbelief and outrage at the treatment Gardner received. One user commented, “Shocking—so sorry to hear this. Isn’t it time airlines are obliged to provide onboard wheelchairs to hold licenses to fly into international airports?” Another user offered support, stating, “Sorry, Frank. This is pretty tough on anyone and degrading. Thank you for your many years of great Middle East commentary and analysis. I have always appreciated your work and admire your stoicism.”
As of now, LOT Polish Airlines has not issued an official response regarding the incident. Gardner's experience has ignited a broader discussion online about the treatment of disabled passengers in the aviation industry, with many calling for urgent reforms to ensure that all airlines provide the necessary accommodations for travelers with disabilities.
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- With inputs from agencies
