DOT Hits American Airlines with Landmark $50M Penalty

American Airlines is facing scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) this week, which fined the airline $50 million for mistreating disabled passengers.

The DOT’s “landmark” fine followed “numerous serious violations of laws protecting airline passengers with disabilities” between 2019 and 2023. Those incidents included failing to provide “prompt wheelchair assistance” to guests, mishandling wheelchairs by damaging or delaying them, and multiple cases that “resulted in injuries and undignified treatment of wheelchair users.”

One infamous incident was captured on video at Miami International Airport (MIA) last year. The video, which went viral, showed an American employee seemingly dropping a wheelchair down a baggage ramp on purpose.

Wheelchair users have been trying for ages to raise awareness about their wheelchairs being broken so often when they fly, and the devastating impact this has on them. @AmericanAir baggage handlers decided to give a demonstration of how much they enjoy breaking them 😡 pic.twitter.com/jQvILpTRyQ

— Becca Peter (@DefectiveBecca) November 20, 2023

The DOT added that while these issues are not unique to American, the airline has “been one of the worst performers among U.S. airlines in terms of both the total number of wheelchairs and scooters mishandling claims and the rate of mishandling claims, and DOT’s investigation revealed a significant number of violations.”

The $50 million penalty does not entirely go to the government—half of it will be credited toward investments American is now required to make in its wheelchair infrastructure, including new systems that the DOT says will help prevent these incidents in the future.