In 2017, a 75-year-old wheelchair user died at Portland Airport. She fell down an escalator and later succumbed to her injuries. Alaska Airlines has now been held responsible. The carrier has to pay $ 3,2 million to the bereaved.

Of course, the first question that arises is how it can be that an airline is liable for a wheelchair user falling down an airport escalator. But the Seattle trial found a clear failure by Alaska Airlines. According to US law, airlines are obliged to provide wheelchair users with appropriate support. This is exactly what the carrier failed to do, so that the retiree with walking disabilities was confronted with an insurmountable hurdle for her.

The lady tried to use the escalator with her wheelchair so as not to miss her connecting flight. The surveillance cameras documented the accident. But Alaska Airlines didn’t want to sit on the fact that they didn’t support the handicapped woman. Rather, it would have been the case that she refused and refused any help. She would have been taken to the skybridge and then she wanted to find the next gate on her own.

The court is of the opinion that precisely that was inadmissible. The 75-year-old woman's state of health would obviously not have been good. Alaska Airlines violated the Air Carrier Access Act and is therefore liable with 3,2 million US dollars. The airline is currently examining the amount of the compensation obligation to appeal. The judgment is therefore not yet final.