Disabled Passenger Forced to Crawl Off Air Canada Plane
Disabled passenger, Rodney Hodgins, compelled to drag himself off Air Canada plane after mobility assistance staff fail to assist him upon arrival Demanding resolution for improved treatment and dignity in air travel
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Excitement and a hint of unease usually accompany most people as they arrive for a trip to Las Vegas.
Rodney Hodgins, a wheelchair user, had a profoundly distressing experience during his flight into the city in August, which he claims ruined the remainder of his trip. As mobility assistance staff from the airport failed to show up, Hodgins had to rely on his wife to help him drag himself along the aisle. Despite his inability to walk, he recounts that Air Canada staff directed him to disembark on foot in order to facilitate the plane turnaround.
Hodgins, who suffers from spastic cerebral palsy, is able to bear his own weight but lacks the ability to move his lower limbs. In late August, Hodgins and his wife Deanna were on a flight from Prince George, British Columbia to Vancouver, and then from Vancouver to Las Vegas. This was a significant event as it marked their first wedding anniversary.
We thought he was kidding
The couple tied the knot in 2022 in Las Vegas, seeking an opportunity to indulge in the delights of Sin City without the burden of wedding preparations or stress. In a delightful gesture, Hodgins arranged for a luxurious six-day stay at the prestigious Delano Las Vegas hotel, surprising Deanna. "He meticulously planned the entire trip, so he was absolutely devastated when things went awry," she reveals.
Due to the narrow aisles on commercial passenger aircraft, wheelchairs are usually unable to be accommodated on board. However, there is a new innovative solution being developed to address this issue. As a result, wheelchair users are typically asked to leave their chair at the aircraft door, where it is then loaded into the hold. To help with the transition, passengers then use an aisle chair, which is known for being narrow and uncomfortable. Airport assistance staff are responsible for assisting passengers with this process. When the plane lands, the reverse procedure takes place.
In the case of Hodgins, his condition requires the assistance of two or three mobility staff members to help him with the aisle chair. The couple informed Air Canada of his specific needs when they booked the assistance service alongside the flights, eight months in advance.
However, on the second flight, Hodgins says that upon landing, nobody came to help him off the plane for a duration of 20 minutes. Deanna Hodgins recalls, "Once we reached Las Vegas, we were filled with joy. The city was vibrant, the weather was pleasant, and we were overjoyed."
However, their bliss was abruptly interrupted.
After approximately 20 minutes of landing, as the couple occupied their seats in Row 12 and observed the power chair being unloaded from the cargo area and brought to the jetbridge, a male flight attendant approached them. He requested that they relocate to the front of the aircraft, citing the need to make arrangements for the upcoming flight.
Deanna Hodgins recalls, "Initially, we assumed he was joking since everyone seemed to be in high spirits. After all, he was the flight attendant who had been present throughout the entire journey and had witnessed my husband being escorted onto the plane in an aisle chair. Therefore, we found it comical, deeming it absurd."
But the flight attendant wasnt joking.
"He insisted that the plane had to turnaround, and had another flight, and we needed to get off," she says.
"We were seized by panic, desperately questioning the situation. How could we possibly disembark? His wheelchair was left behind on the jetway. Our minds were consumed with uncertainty, unsure of how to overcome this obstacle."
Yet, they assert, the persistent flight attendant upheld their demand.
Passenger needed more assistance
While discussing Hodgins' inability to walk, it was mentioned that someone from mobility assistance came forward to offer aid with the aisle chair. According to them, this individual was the only person who showed them kindness throughout the incident.
Rodney Hodgins said he wants to use the incident to raise awareness of what people with disabilities have to cope with while flying.
Hodgins requires assistance from multiple individuals to help him get into the chair. However, the staff member informed him that no one else would be arriving, despite Hodgins' attempts to communicate via radio.
The couple opted to wait, anticipating that another person would eventually arrive. In the meantime, the cleaning crew made their way through the aircraft, while the cabin crew seemed to be deliberating on how to handle the pilots and staff on the jetway.
Eventually, when the cleaning team reached their row, Deanna Hodgins recalls feeling the urge to move. "They insisted that the plane needed to be turned around," she explains. "That's when Rodney finally made a decision. He said, 'We'll have to find a way to disembark this plane - even if I have to drag myself.'"
Hodgins, speaking to CNN, expressed his frustration at being unable to reach the front of the plane due to his inability to walk. Determined to overcome this obstacle, he asked his wife for assistance. Despite his immobility, they devised a strategy where his wife would assist in moving his legs while he held onto the seats on either side of the aisle. In this manner, they were able to cover a distance of 12 rows.
However, as they approached the galley area before the front row, Hodgins found himself without any support to hold onto. To resolve this issue, he positioned his wife in front of him and relied on her shoulders to provide support. Throughout this challenging journey, no airline staff offered any assistance to Hodgins and his wife.
They requested the assistance of the staffer in charge of the aisle chair to bring it over. Previously, the staffer had been seated towards the rear of the plane while they struggled to make their way to the front. With Deanna's assistance, they successfully maneuvered Rodney into the aisle chair, allowing them to exit the plane. Waiting for them at the aircraft door throughout the entire ordeal was Rodney's power chair.
According to them, this incident greatly impacted their trip to Vegas as Hodgins suffered physical injuries. "For three days, he was unable to even shower," Deanna reveals.
The airline passengers getting 'unacceptable' treatment
Seeking resolution and change
Air Canada admits that they violated disability regulations in an email response to the couple's account of mistreatment. The airline stated that they tried to apologize and offer compensation to Hodgins for his distressing travel experience.
The destination airport did not provide the expected level of care. We hired a third-party specialist in Las Vegas to assist with wheelchair transportation between the aircraft and the airport. After investigating the incident, we found that the flight attendants followed procedures by offering assistance, but it was declined. In light of this service lapse, we will be assessing other partners for mobility assistance in Las Vegas.
The airline did not provide specific details when asked about the Hodgins allegations by CNN.
The incident is currently under investigation by enforcement officers of the Canadian Transportation Agency, as stated by the agency in communication with CNN.
This week, Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez has urged Air Canada to arrange a meeting with him and Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities in Canada.
Rodriguez expressed shock upon hearing about another incident aboard an Air Canada flight, emphasizing the importance of treating all Canadians with dignity and respect. He stated that the airline must submit a plan to address the situation.
According to Deanna Hodgins, a female flight attendant offered to carry their bags. However, she firmly stated that no further assistance was provided, neither to move the passenger nor to help them move him.
Deanna Hodgins asserts that it was not the mobility assistance staff who instructed them to disembark the aircraft, but rather, she attributes the responsibility to Air Canada.
Looking for dignified treatment
The airline has sent them $2,000 in flight credits, but the couple were hoping for something rather cheaper: time.
Deanna mentioned that Rodney was yearning for a sincere and empathetic conversation with someone in a prominent position at Air Canada, in order to regain his sense of humanity. He simply wished for acknowledgment of their failure, a commitment to prevent such incidents in the future, and the implementation of more favorable policies. Rodney believed that mere apologies hold little value without meaningful action.
Hodgins seeks to utilize the incident as an opportunity to increase awareness regarding the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities when traveling by air. Additionally, he aims to advocate for more stringent penalties imposed on airlines and airports that neglect their duty to assist special assistance passengers. To address this concern, Hodgins proposes imposing fines on airlines that fail to assist passengers within 15 minutes of reaching the gate.
Rodney Hodgins recently turned 50, however, the couple, who have a passion for traveling, decided to cancel their trip. Deanna expressed their concern, saying, "We were filled with anxiety about potential flight mishaps."
"We weren't seeking preferential treatment. All we desired was a smooth journey and respectful service. We do not expect any extraordinary treatment - only basic support."
CNNs Paula Newton contributed reporting.
