A wheelchair-bound woman, Theresa Purcell, filed an official lawsuit against American Airlines after she was forced to crawl onto a plane because an agent said it was too late to set up the ramp.
Purcell was taking a commuter flight from San Diego. She called ahead of time and was shocked when she was told she had to get out of her wheelchair and crawl all the way to her seat.
“I crawled up onto the steps. I crawled into the plane. There was no other way for me to get on the plane so I crawled up to the plane.” Purcell said.
This was the first time she had flown American Airlines. She said she alerted them ahead of time that she would need a ramp and was shocked when they told her it was too late to accommodate her.
“There was a ramp right next to the plane and she was like, ‘Oh, it’s too late,’ so I was like ‘Okay, so we can’t just, the ramp is right there. Can’t you guys just push it right here so I can get on?’ and she’s like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry,” Purcell added.
American Airlines has apologized, but the apology isn’t enough to satisfy Purcell. She filed a lawsuit asking for $75,000 in damages to ensure this kind of humiliation never happens to anyone else.
A letter was sent to the airline by Purcell’s attorney asking for compensation and the airline responded with:
“Thank you for your letter of demand on behalf of Theresa Purcell. American Airlines will not be issuing any compensation for your client’s injuries claim.”
“I was humiliated. It was embarrassing to have 50-something people watch you crawl into a plane,” Purcell added.
Purcell has a bone disease that keeps her in a wheelchair. According to KHON2 News, she’s a hip-hop artist who flies all the time. She regularly requests ramps or a wheelchair lifts to help her board.
“You wouldn’t want to watch your family member crawl on to a plane. I mean, come on, this is America,” Purcell said. “I’m just saying there’s always a way.”
Despite the way she was treated, Purcell says she still flies but never again with American. The experience haunts her.
“Is today another time where I have to climb onto an airplane again, where all these people have to watch me embarrass myself again, and I gotta be there, hoping please, I hope I never see these people again?” Purcell said.
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