Delta Air Lines kicks disabled kid off flight—for using mobility scooter. Boy has skeletal dysplasia—a form of dwarfism. Making it hard to walk long distances without medical assistance. "Twice this week we've flown with his device no issue—but today got kicked off," mom said. Flight attendant claimed there was... a problem with the battery—but regulations say it is small enough to take on a plane. "That's exactly why we bought this specific scooter... clearly we need some educating on mobility devices." Under the ADA people with mobility disabilities have the right to use the mobility device that best suits their needs—including electric scooters. Incident occurred while boarding a flight in Florida bound for Atlanta. Erin Kasey doesn't have an account on this platform—so posting first full length and credited video here to help raise awareness.show more

SUE! Sue for your son’s future. This abhorrent behavior must be made an example I’m sorry both of you were subjected to such a terrible experience. I hope it gets resolved and better

No one should be surprised that Delta Air Lines is acting like this. When a major corporation coldly removes a disabled child from a flight and denies him the use of his essential mobility scooter, they are showing us exactly who they are. If you look into their history of facilitating ICE deportation flights, it becomes painfully clear where they have always aligned their values.

FLORIDA — A mother says Delta Air Lines kicked her disabled son and their whole family off a flight to Atlanta because of a small electric scooter that might look like a kid's toy—but is actually something he uses to help him get around because of his disability. The boy's mother, Erin Kasey, says her son's scooter is medically documented and meets airline battery requirements—and had already been allowed on two Delta flights that week. She says they bought the scooter specifically because it worked for her son's medical needs and met airline battery requirements. She also says they had already flown with the exact same scooter on two Delta flights earlier that week, and nobody had a problem with it. "Twice this week we've flown with his device no issue—but today got kicked off," Kasey said in her video about what happened. Her son has achondroplasia, which is a form of skeletal dysplasia commonly associated with dwarfism. Because of his condition, walking long distances can cause pain and make him really tired, which makes getting through big airports a lot harder than it is for most people. The scooter lets him get around on his own without getting exhausted or needing someone to push him in a wheelchair everywhere. According to Kasey, the device is supported by a doctor's note and is also written into her son's Individualized Education Program, or IEP, at school. She explained that her son likes using the scooter better than a wheelchair because it lets him stay more upright and gives him opportunities to stand—which she says is actually better for his health. But because the scooter is small and made for a child, it looks similar to something another kid might ride around the neighborhood just for fun. And apparently that has made some people question whether it's actually medical equipment. Except federal disability laws don't say a mobility device has to look like a traditional wheelchair to count. According to Kasey, the family had already boarded their flight from Florida to Atlanta when things started going wrong. She says Delta employees pulled her husband aside to talk about the scooter, but the communication was confusing and she wasn't really given a chance to be part of the conversation before they decided the family had to leave. "They were talking to my husband first," she explained while describing what happened with the employees. She says the staff eventually told the family to get off the airplane. "It is ridiculous," Kasey said. And what made this even harder to understand was that they had already traveled on two Delta flights earlier in the week with the exact same scooter. On those flights, nobody had made them leave or told them they couldn't travel with it. So naturally, Kasey wanted to know why all of a sudden it was a problem. Kasey says Delta employees had concerns about the battery, even though she says the family specifically made sure the device met airline regulations before buying it. "That's exactly why we bought this specific scooter... clearly we need some educating on mobility devices," she said. Federal regulations recognize mobility scooters—even when they look like toys. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, people with mobility disabilities generally have the right to use devices that work best for their individual needs in covered public places. Those devices don't necessarily have to look like traditional medical equipment. Federal ADA regulations even recognize "other power-driven mobility devices," which can include things like Segways, golf carts, and other battery-powered equipment. The Air Carrier Access Act, which specifically governs airlines, also recognizes scooters used by people with mobility disabilities as assistive devices. TSA allows mobility scooters through airport security screening, while FAA regulations allow qualifying battery-powered mobility scooters on airplanes, including devices with properly protected lithium-ion batteries. Depending on how the battery is installed, different safety requirements apply, including a 300-watt-hour limit for certain removable lithium-ion batteries. American Airlines reportedly had no problem with the same scooter. Kasey says the family eventually got on an American Airlines flight, and that airline let them travel with the exact same mobility scooter. If that's confirmed—it makes the whole situation raise even more questions about why Delta wouldn't transport it. Both Delta and American Airlines still have to follow the same basic federal disability protections and FAA battery regulations. "This is about disability access, consistency, and treating passengers with disabilities with dignity," Kasey said. They also have a legal responsibility to accommodate people with disabilities—and that includes understanding that not every disability looks the same. For Kasey's son, that little electric scooter isn't just something he rides around for fun. It's how he gets around without having to deal with extra pain, getting exhausted, and needing somebody else's help all the time. Link to Erin Kasey on TikTok: Written by — @LongTimeHistory

Delta Airlines always has horror stories on its flights. Now that Spirit is gone (thankfully), #Delta and United compete for the worst. [Delta] [Airlines] #Delta @Delta

.@delta Be better.

@Delta Your employees need better training!

When they wrote "electric scooter" as a mobility device, they were referring to this:

WTF @Delta ??????????

FFFFFF you, @Delta 😒

@Delta I know y'all are better than this.

Will never fly Delta.

since republicans are in office this treatment has risen shockingly. I am so sorry

Delta needs to be cancelled

Dear @delta Eat a dick.

😡

Looks like a scooter.

This is wrong

And they don't have to let your very volatile battery onto their plane get over yourself , you're a clown

SUE the fucking airline for medical discrimination they are fucking bastards

There's always a little Hitler somewhere.

@AGToddBlanche @FAA_Bryan @TheJusticeDept can we get an investigation launched into @Delta this is not only disgusting, but also looks like a textbook violation of the ADA to me

Batteries are Batteries. Simple

Their plane, their rules.

Please sue them for filth! This son and his family deserve millions.

That’s not a mobility scooter!

THE SAFETY OF THE ENTIRE FLIGHT v YOUR INCONVENIENCE 👀😳😵‍💫

You cannot use that on a plane. Was he using it on the aisle of the aircraft? Because delta doesn’t have to let him do that.

Sue them

@HarmeetKDhillon