Qantas passenger speaks out after airline damages her wheelchair multiple times |

Subscribe and turn on notifications🔔 : https://buff.ly/3F6ZiLt | A Qantas passenger has called out the airline after her wheelchair was damaged multiple times on recent flights.

Australian disability advocate Zoe Simmons is calling for better, disability-led policies and systemic reforms to ensure disabled travellers are respected, and their mobility aids are properly handled.

When Zoe was given back her wheelchair following a round-trip to Tokyo from Melbourne, it had sustained substantial damages.

She said it was handed back with warped metal, broken parts, and scratches that impacted its safety and usability. Zoe revealed she had also experienced more severe damages in 2021 and 2024.

While Qantas did arrange for Zoe to get her wheelchair repaired through one its partnered repair services after her recent trip, she feels it’s unfair that disabled passengers are often expected to handle repairs themselves whenever their mobility aids are damaged during travel.

Zoe criticised the way airlines treat wheelchairs like baggage, instead of essential mobility aids, and called for stronger policies, better staff training, and public reporting on wheelchair damage.

She said, “Imagine if non-disabled people expected their legs to be broken every time they flew, if chunks came off… What if your bones were warped? They need to stop treating wheelchairs like baggage and start respecting them for what they are.”

Speaking to Yahoo News, a Qantas spokesperson “sincerely apologised” to Zoe and confirmed they are “investigating how this damage occurred”.

Read more: https://au.yahoo.com/news/qantas-pass...

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