Frank Gardner, a BBC journalist who uses a wheelchair, had a difficult experience on a LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw on Monday. Gardner reported that because there was no onboard wheelchair, he had to crawl on the plane’s floor to reach the bathroom.
Gardner shared his frustration on social media, stating, “Wow. It’s 2024, and I had to crawl on a LOT Polish Airlines flight to get to the toilet.” He mentioned that the crew informed him that not providing wheelchairs onboard is part of the airline’s policy. Gardner found this policy to be discriminatory, saying, “If you are a person with a disability and cannot walk, this is simply unfair.”
Despite the situation, Gardner praised the crew, describing them as “as helpful and compassionate as they could be.” He also stated that he won’t fly with LOT again until the airline improves its accessibility.
LOT Airlines issued a statement following the incident, apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the lack of a wheelchair on board. The airline explained that wheelchairs are currently only available on long-haul flights with Boeing 787 Dreamliners, but they are testing solutions to equip their short-haul flights with onboard wheelchairs soon.
Gardner has been using a wheelchair since 2004 after being shot multiple times during an attack in Saudi Arabia while working as a BBC correspondent. LOT deeply regretted the incident and sincerely apologized for the distress it caused.
