A wheelchair user’s harrowing experience of having to crawl down metal steps from a plane after being told that assistance would take an hour to arrive has been deemed “unacceptable.” Adrian Keogh, who has been using a wheelchair since 2015 following a spinal injury sustained in a construction accident, had to crawl from the Ryanair flight after landing at Landvetter Airport in Sweden on Saturday. Despite being in pain after the flight and feeling the need to use the bathroom, Mr Keogh was advised by the cabin crew to crawl down the corrugated steel steps instead of waiting for assistance. The airport and airline have apologised and said they were looking into the incident. Air travel for wheelchair users can be frustrating, with such incidents being unacceptable, as all they ask for is the ability to travel with dignity. If you require assistance while travelling through the airport as a wheelchair user, you can request assistance through your airline or tour operator at least 48 hours before your flight. If things go wrong or you’re unhappy with the service, take your complaint directly to the airline or airport, or an alternative dispute resolution body for mediation and conciliation, instead of going to court.
