Posted on 04/30/2019 3:00:08 PM PDT by Morgana
FULL TITLE: 'I had to crawl': Amputee seeks damages after United Airlines and airport security seize scooter batteries
Stearn Hodge says he will never forget the humiliation of having to drag his body across a hotel room floor during what was supposed to be a vacation celebrating his 43rd wedding anniversary — because a security agent at the Calgary International Airport and United Airlines confiscated the batteries he needed to operate a portable scooter.
"Having to crawl across the floor in front of my wife is the most humiliating thing that I can think of," said Hodge. "It unmasks how real my disability is … I haven't been the same since."
The 68-year-old retired contractor from Kelowna, B.C., lost his left arm and right leg in a 1984 workplace accident. He now relies on a portable scooter powered by lithium batteries.
But on a trip to Tulsa, Okla., on Feb. 26, 2017, an agent with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and a United Airlines official told Hodge to remove the $2,000 battery from his scooter and fly without it, as well as his spare battery.
In making the demand, both employees cited safety concerns.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
Did you hear about this?
Batteries have taken down planes. Some of the large lithium batteries can burst into flames
Lithium batteries have started several fires .
“It unmasks how real my disability is … I haven’t been the same since.”...
It’s a terrible thing, I guess. I don’t know security protocol.
But to be frank, I think that’s a snowflake statement.
I’ve had things happen in my life the were pretty bad.
Many here have had things happen to them worse than this, by far. And I and they HAVE been the same since.
But if it helps in the lawsuit, that’s all that matters.
The dude is missing a left arm and part of his right leg. No it’s not a snowflake thing it’s very real.
How do people in motorized wheelchairs fly?
Certain batteries are considered Dangerous Goods and regulated by IATA. Don’t see how his suit stands a chance.
So what batteries can be on a plane and what can not be? I know some people in a motorized wheelchair do fly.
“It unmasks how real my disability is … I haven’t been the same since.”
Really? you have been disabled since 1984 and only 35 years later when this occurred you realized how real it is?
Did the cripple’s name include any variation of Akmed!?
You know I just had a thought....
United Airlines and the Hotel he stayed at could not provide an old fashion wheel chair? really?
Even my local K-Mart has one of those!
Someone tell me if what I said makes sense
Yeah, if they are consistent in denying the batteries, it sounds like the flyer just didn’t do his research.
He should have brought a non-powered wheelchair.
Or they could buy one at Walgreens for $79. If they can afford to fly, they can afford to buy a wheelchair. Probably could rent one somewhere much cheaper.
Depending on how often the airline runs into this, the airline should keep some wheelchairs on hand and rent them out. Or arrange a rental at the flyer’s destination.
Did he get the $2000 battery back after his return flight?
Not to make light of this, but he’s been this way since 1984. I’m pretty sure his wife is well aware of the extent of his disability. And probably not the first time she’s seen him crawl across the floor. How does he get to his scooter? I’ll bet at night if he needs to use the facility, he just hops out of bed, no scooter required.
The problem was the friggin airlines not posting or letting people’s know ahead of time that other plans for travel might be necessary
“How do people in motorized wheelchairs fly?”
They flap their arms really really fast.
L
well you know united airlines is slacking in a lot of things. Why do I get the feeling he’s flown a lot and this was the first time they did this?
I need a beer now *GROAN*
After he went through security and they had a chance to examine the batteries, why didn’t they reinstall them into the wheel chair and give it back to the poor guy?
They have posters of things that won’t fly at the check in and various points to the gate. Lithium batteries have burst into flame, as posters have said.
It sounds like the gentleman could have anticipated this and made other arrangements.
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