If you think being sued over kicking someone’s airplane seat is interesting news, try being the most vulnerable of society, dependent on caregivers who are meant to help you, not hurt you. Unfortunately, the American Airlines Disability Service Team whose job is to provide safe, and dependable help boarding the aircraft, were taking care of Hunter at the time of this incident. They seemed to completely disregard and ignore her several requests on care. Hunter verbally stated she needed her airplane seatbelt buckled immediately after her transfer and these requests were clearly ignored – being a quadriplegic, she cannot balance herself and needs support to stay upright and steady.

The secondary verbal request that was also made several times was that Hunter did not want the American Airlines Disability Service Team to let go of her UNTIL she was buckled (which clearly never happened) and even through her urgent requests not to let go of her, they released her on seat transfer (without her seatbelt on) and she fell to the ground. This did not only hurt Hunter, it also humiliated her in front of a plane full of people, especially while having a disability – think, Hunter can’t stand up, she can’t get away from these people, she can’t put pressure on her own wound, she can’t call someone for help – Hunter needs someone to hand her her own phone… everything is up to someone else to do the right thing. She can only guide and direct, but at the end of the day the people around her make choices. EMS had to be called to the American Airlines flight and Hunter’s head injuries delayed the flight by an hour. Her glasses were broken during the fall so for a week she couldn’t see properly. Imagine the amount of force to create a gaping head wound, broken glasses, and then you still had to depend on the care of others after you were completely disregarded. How scared and frightened would you be on whether you would continue to receive the same level of care on this journey. 

Hunter is trying to get this story out, it is not just about the airlines, but about education on care. These were supposedly trained individuals, so what went so wrong that they thought they could make care decisions even when direct verbal, urgent requests from the individual clearly stated they were about to do something Hunter knew could put her in harm’s way. 

Here is a link to Hunter’s original story on Facebook: #AMERICANAIRLINESCRASHLANDSTHEDISABLED!

On January 26 while flying to Colorado for skiing with the Texas shredders American Airlines Caused me to fall resulting in a head injury requiring stitches, my being humiliated in front of a plane load of people and hurting. The fall broke my glasses and emu had to be called which delayed the flight. Their disabilities team ignored Repeated instructions and did not secure my seatbelt. I am spastic a spastic quadriplegic and cannot self-transfer. American Airlines will take zero responsibility and giving us the runaround hoping we will simply get tired and go away. Please help me make this go viral #AmericanDropsDisabled to all my Facebook friends please share.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this story and I hope you can help share this news so that airline services may continue to improve their care and understand the necessity to follow a directed individual care plan and to understand the risks that are at stake for these vulnerable individuals who depend on them.