Video SHOCKING report claims travelers are FAKING disabilities
The co-hosts of ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ delved into a fresh report suggesting numerous passengers without disabilities are feigning impairments, enabling them to bypass queues and be escorted down the aircraft ramp.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Various individuals on social media are denouncing instances of “Jetway Jesus” and “miracle flight,” accusing a growing number of airline travelers of deceiving the system by utilizing wheelchairs to circumvent lines and embark on planes early — only to disembark from their flights unaided upon arrival at their destinations.
Within the “r/todayilearned” forum on Reddit, a user described how “miracle flights” seemingly operate nowadays.
“Individuals simulate mobility problems, arrive at the gate utilizing wheelchairs, [then] attain superior service and more desirable seating,” the user expressed.
The person continued, “Once the trip concludes, [these travelers] exit the aircraft without assistance and [do not] require wheelchairs — essentially, [the] flights miraculously remedy these individuals.”
One individual openly admitted, “I have my grandmother transported via wheelchair when I accompany her to the airport to avoid her becoming disoriented on the route to the gate, despite the fact that she has no issues with mobility.”
Social media users are castigating “Jetway Jesus” and “miracle flight” phenomena, asserting that a rising count of airline travelers are fabricating mobility challenges to gain earlier access to planes than the majority of other travelers. (iStock)
Another person remarked, “This constitutes simply corporate propaganda directed against the Americans With Disabilities Act.”
One individual also stated, “The airline informed me that during layovers at O’Hare [in Chicago] — when rapid transit across substantial distances is required — you should request a wheelchair.”
An additional user commented, “Undeniably, certain individuals are perpetrating fraud… Some individuals are likely capable of walking, though perhaps only through the use of a cane or with considerable difficulty.”
Airlines have documented a 30% annual surge in demands for wheelchair aid at major airports, as per the International Air Transport Agency (AITA), an industry association representing global airlines, with main offices situated in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The pronounced increase in requests for wheelchair assistance represents a notable concern for the aviation sector,” a trade organization conveyed recently. (iStock)
“The pronounced increase in requests for wheelchair assistance constitutes a significant concern for the aviation industry,” the organization highlighted within a recent communication. “To fully grasp the scope of this matter, IATA is examining the issue through surveys and investigations.”
Airlines have documented a 30% annual surge in demands for wheelchair aid at major airports.
It noted that “the requests are more commonplace in specific geographic areas (namely, flights involving India, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Europe).”
It specified, in addition, that “numerous requests for aid may originate from passengers who do not possess physical disabilities but lack confidence navigating a congested airport, or individuals who require directional guidance for various factors, including age.”
Gary Leff, a Texas-based expert in the travel sector and author of the blog “View From the Wing,” informed Fox News Digital that “boarding early [might] afford you admittance to a more desirable seat onboard,” contingent on the specific airline.
“Because the pool of contracted personnel assisting wheelchair users at each airport remains limited, needless requests penalize those with an authentic requirement,” a travel industry insider stated. (iStock)
He elaborated, “Because the pool of contracted personnel assisting wheelchair users at each airport remains limited, needless requests penalize those with an authentic requirement.”
Leff specified that “those passengers may encounter prolonged waits before disembarking or awaiting the arrival of a wheelchair on the jet bridge.”
Leading airlines such as Jetblue, Delta, and American enable passengers to seek wheelchair assistance during the flight booking phase.
Fox News Digital approached multiple airlines, seeking clarification on whether travelers are obliged to furnish documentation when they request a wheelchair.
A representative for United Airlines answered, “No, we do not stipulate a physician’s certification or any other form of disability verification.”
Southwest Airlines communicated via a statement, “Federal statutes prohibit air carriers from soliciting documentation concerning disabilities, and we conform to all federal regulations governing air travel.”
One passenger reports observing “an escalation in wheelchair-related deceit with each trip,” as he remarked. (iStock)
The Wall Street Journal, in a piece this week discussing the subject, quoted a passenger who recounted that his recent flight experienced delays when 25 wheelchair passengers impeded the boarding procedure.
The passenger in question, Carlos Gomez, stated that he perceives “an escalation in wheelchair-related deceit with each trip,” as indicated by the article. “It amplifies the already chaotic experience of flying.”
Numerous travelers are “lamenting the growing prevalence of able-bodied passengers who exploit the system to circumvent lines,” according to the piece, which addressed the “Jetway Jesus” occurrence.
When passengers egress the aircraft at their point of arrival, demonstrating no demand for assistance whatsoever after being escorted onto the plane in wheelchairs — “that’s quite the recovery!” the publication suggested.