'Wow, It’s 2024': Disabled UK Journalist Crawls On Flight After Airline Fails To Give Wheelchair Service

A UK-based differently abled journalist who took a returning flight from Poland’s Warsaw had to go through a ‘shocking’ as well as embarrassing situation after he was forced to crawl across the flight cabin due to LOT Polish Airline’s lack of onboard wheelchair facilities.

The British journalist, Frank Gardner, took to X and shared the incident mentioning that it all happened when he needed to use the toilet during the flight, only to be informed by the crew that the airline does not provide onboard wheelchairs. The policy left him with no choice but to crawl.

“Wow. It’s 2024 and I’ve just had to crawl along the floor of this LOT Polish airline to get to the toilet during a flight back from Warsaw as ‘we don’t have onboard wheelchairs. It’s airline policy. If you’re disabled and you can’t walk this is just discriminatory,” Gardner said.

‘Not Cabin Crew’s Fault’

Despite the resentment, Gardener was quick to clear that it was not the cabin crew’s fault but the airline’s. He added that the cabin crew did their best under the circumstances.

“In fairness to the cabin crew, they were as helpful and apologetic as they could be. Not their fault, it’s the airline. Won’t be flying LOT again until they join the 21st century,” he added.

Gardner, who lost the use of his legs after an attack during wartime reporting in the Middle East, has reported from the world’s most dangerous regions in the past. In 2004, while covering a story in Saudi Arabia, Gardner was attacked by Al-Qaeda militants, leaving him partially paralysed.

Internet Brims With Reactions

Social media users apologised to Gardner on behalf of the airlines. “Shocking – so sorry to hear this, isn’t it time airlines are obliged to provide onboard wheelchairs to be able to hold licences to fly into international airports,” a user said.

Another user added, “Sorry, Frank. This is pretty tough on anyone and degrading. Thank you for your many years of great Middle East commentary and analysis. I have always appreciated your work and admire your stoicism.”

“Would it be so hard to make a wheelchair that runs along the same gunnels that the trolleys do, and can lock in place if necessary so that wheelchair users can get to and from their seats? Pretty sure they would only need one per aircraft,” the third user wrote.