The U.S. Transportation Department announced a $50 million fine Wednesday against American Airlines over allegations it mistreated passengers with disabilities, which the department said in some cases caused injuries.
The fine is 25 times larger than the any other fine by the department for disability-related violations, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on a conference call with reporters.
The airline from 2019 to 2023 “provided unsafe and undignified physical assistance to passengers on a number of occasions that, at times, resulted in injuries,” Buttigieg said.
“They repeatedly failed to provide prompt wheelchair assistance, and they damaged thousands of passengers’ wheelchairs, which left passengers without the device they need to live their life fully,” he said.
American Airlines said in a statement Wednesday that it had reached a settlement with the Transportation Department and that it has been making efforts to improve its performance with passengers who need wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
It said its mishandled wheelchair and scooter rate has decreased by 20% since 2022. It also said it “invested more than $175 million in services, infrastructure, training and new technology” to improve service.