A BBC journalist with a disability came forward with his disturbing experience from a plane flying from Warsaw, Poland. Frank Gardner, the BBC ‘s security correspondent said he had to “crawl along the airline’s floor” to access the toilet due to a lack of in-flight wheelchair access.
Gardner recently shared this experience on the social media X platform. He posted a photo of his legs on the floor of the aircraft. He was returning to London on Monday by the airline LOT Polish Airlines. In his post, he explained, “I just had to crawl along the floor to get to the toilet as ‘we don’t have onboard wheelchairs. It’s airline policy.'”
Gardner, who observed the treatment given to the disabled passenger, chimed in. “If you’re disabled and you can’t walk. This is just discriminatory.” He was complimentary about the cabin crew who had assisted him during the flight but was critical of the airline. He went on to say “I won’t be flying with them again until they change their policy.” Later he continued, “Won’t be flying LOT again till they join the 21st century.”
Many users on X also added to Gardner’s post, sharing their own depressing experiences with airlines that do not cater to people with disabilities. These shared tales gave a wider perspective on the airline industry.
Under the law, the airlines in the EU are to respect the rights of air passengers with disability. And not take any surcharge to extend services. However, cases like Gardner’s expose a certain apathy among airlines against compliance with regulations.
Significantly, Frank Gardner is one of those renowned personalities working with the BBC. And most of his contribution to the channel has been related to reporting from the region known as West Asia. He has reported from some of the most dangerous war zones in the world, such as Afghanistan and Somalia. In 2004, he undertook an assignment in Saudi Arabia, where he was shot six times from point-blank range. The traumatic experience he had that day left him grievously injured and confined to a wheelchair.
A leading voice in the disabled community, Gardner received recognition as one of the 100 Most Influential Disabled People in Britain in 2017. In 2008, he won the UAE’s Zayed Medal for Journalism. Additionally, the European Diversity Awards named him Journalist of the Year in 2017.
The World Health Organization estimates that almost 16 percent of the population of the world has some form of disability. The United Nations stresses that disability inclusion also plays an essential role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The World Programme of Action, adopted in 1982, aims to promote opportunities that enable people with disabilities to participate fully in their communities.
ANI