Mobility device lost or damaged by an airline? USA TODAY wants to hear your story
According to the Department of Transportation, airlines "mishandle" on average about 1.5% of the mobility devices they transport.
In 2022, airlines carried 741,582 wheelchairs and scooters, and there were 11,389 incidents reported to the DOT. That's an increase from 2021, when carriers transported 553,969 mobility devices and 7,239 incidents were reported.
This year, USA TODAY wants to highlight what those figures mean for travelers with disabilities. We're looking to track these incidents throughout 2023 with the goal of bringing light to an all-too-common issue.
If your own mobility device was damaged or lost by an airline this year, please share your story with us using the form below:
Real experiences highlighted
Read Amanda Parkman's experience with Southwest Airlines on her flight to New Orleans
Read Shayn Pulley's experience with American Airlines on their flight to Philadelphia
Read Clifford Gowing's experience with American Airlines on his flight to Miami
Read Heather Bennett's experience with Delta Air Lines on her flight to Boston
Read Emily Voorde's experience with United Air Lines on her flight to South Bend
Read Colleen Flanagan's experience with JetBlue on her flight to Washington, D.C.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stories behind the data: 2023 airline mobility device incidents
