Airline Disconnecting Woman’s Ventilator Is Mic Drop Moment That Proves Flying Has Become a Nightmare
Imagine the Horror of Having Your Ventilator Disconnected While Boarding a Flight
Picture this: you rely on a ventilator to stay alive, and as you’re being assisted onto a plane, the crew abruptly pulls it away from you. It sounds like a nightmare, but for Alessia Di Virgilio, it was a shocking reality.
Di Virgilio, who uses a wheelchair and a ventilator, had her distressing encounter with an Air Canada crew captured on film, as reported by the U.K. Daily Mail. This incident occurred after the same supposedly helpful crew dropped a lift on her head.
“It was just such an overwhelming experience… I just kind of shut down from there,” Di Virgilio shared.
This is just one of the many incidents that have forced the top executives of privately-owned Air Canada to face the Canadian federal government. They have been summoned to address numerous complaints regarding the mistreatment of disabled passengers. Some of these cases have been even more severe than Di Virgilio’s, with one resulting in a tragic death.
Harish Pant, an 83-year-old man, boarded an Air Canada flight in Delhi. During the journey, he fell seriously ill, experiencing excruciating chest and back pain, vomiting, loss of bowel control, and the inability to stand. When Pant’s daughter, Shanu Pande, pleaded with the cabin crew to divert the plane, they callously chose to ignore her. The flight continued as scheduled, landing nine hours later. Paramedics met Pant upon arrival, but he tragically passed away under their care.
Pande, speaking to Go Public and as reported by the Daily Mail, said, “He was at the mercy of the pilot and Air Canada people. They were inhumane and callous.”
She holds the airline responsible for her father’s death, a claim that Air Canada representative Peter Fitzpatrick vehemently denies, despite expressing sympathy. Pant’s family is now pursuing legal action against the airline. According to the Daily Mail, “the incident was investigated by the Canadian Transportation Agency and… the airline said it violated Canadian disability regulations in his case.”
In response to the numerous complaints from the disabled community, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau acknowledges that his airline has failed many of its customers. He promises to make improvements, including changes in equipment and practices. However, he should also reconsider his use of vouchers as compensation, as the monetary value attached to them is rather insulting, ranging from $500 to $1,000.
One of the individuals who received such inadequate compensation is Rodney Hodgins, who suffers from cerebral palsy. He was forced to drag himself down the aisle of an Air Canada plane when the crew failed to provide assistance.
Canadian Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez agrees with Rousseau, emphasizing that Air Canada must do better for all passengers. “All Canadians must be treated with dignity and respect. Full stop,” he stated.
These sentiments align with the recent ratings of the airline by Skytrax and Trustpilot. Skytrax, which evaluates “airline quality,” gave Air Canada a score of 4/10 based on 2,309 reviews. Trustpilot was even less generous, awarding them a rating of 1.4 based on 593 reviews. Many reviewers cited rude and poorly trained airline staff.
However, let’s face the truth. Is Air Canada really any different from many other airlines?
Flying has become a nightmare. The days of glamour and excitement are long gone, especially during the holidays. Once, expanded competition and lower ticket prices benefited travelers, making it affordable for more people to fly. But then, the tipping point arrived, bringing with it a drastic decline in services. Fees are now attached to every courtesy that was once complimentary, ticket prices have skyrocketed (according to CuencaHighLife, they have increased 8-11 times), legroom has diminished, delays are excessive, flights are overbooked, connections are missed, cancellations are relentless, pilot shortages occur, luggage gets lost, planes are worn-out, flight staff and airport personnel are rude and unprofessional, and airports are dirty and dilapidated.
The demand has surpassed the airlines’ capabilities. They have mismanaged their resources, including allocating excessive funds to top-heavy salaries.
Unfortunately, the burden of this mismanagement falls on the consumers. Even if you purchase insurance to protect yourself, the coverage is limited, and the fine print is extensive. It’s a gamble whether you’ll ever receive any compensation when filing a claim.
It seems that the bottom line is the only thing that matters to the airline industry. They rely on the fact that consumers will continue to accept their subpar service because they believe we have no other choice. So, if they set new records for delays in 2023 (as noted by the Bureau of Transport Statistics and reported by the Daily Mail), they don’t seem to care. It doesn’t matter that nearly a quarter of all U.S. flights have been delayed this year.
They know that consumers will continue to fly. Just think back to last year’s Christmas season and the chaos caused by Southwest Airlines cancellations. Despite the mass cancellations, Southwest remains one of the four dominant airlines alongside Delta, American, and United.
In other words, be prepared to arrive at the airport four hours in advance, expect to be patted down like a terrorist while others walk through security unscathed at the border, and hope that you reach your destination within the 24-hour window specified on your ticket. Avoid connecting flights if possible. And if you are disabled and rely on a ventilator to stay alive, make sure your loved ones know where to find your will before you board the plane.
A Note from Our Founder:
Every morning, we at The Western Journal wake up and pursue our mission of giving you the important information you need about what’s happening in America.
We can’t do that without your help.
America has been bombarded with false narratives, designed to make you feel powerless. The Western Journal empowers you by exposing these false narratives.
But today, I must be honest with you: The future of The Western Journal is in jeopardy without your help.
Silicon Valley and the Big Tech tyrants have done everything they can to put The Western Journal out of business. It is thanks to our faithful donors and subscribers that we have been able to continue our work.
Please don’t wait another minute.
Donate now – our situation in America is dire. Our country hangs by a thread, and The Western Journal stands for truth in these difficult times.
Please stand with us by donating today.
Floyd G. Brown
Founder of The Western Journal
The post Airline Disconnecting Woman’s Ventilator Is Mic Drop Moment That Proves Flying Has Become a Nightmare appeared first on The Western Journal.
Href=”https://www.westernjournal.com/author/klug” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Klug, Czaja, Reynolds, and increasingly polarized political climate in America is eroding the foundations of democracy. The rise of divisive rhetoric, lack of bipartisan cooperation, and disregard for democratic institutions create a breeding ground for potential collapse.
2. Socioeconomic Inequality: They point out the growing wealth gap and economic inequality in America. This disparity, combined with declining social mobility, can lead to social unrest and instability.
3. Climate Change: The authors raise concerns about America’s inadequate response to climate change. They suggest that if the country fails to address this global crisis seriously, it could have long-lasting adverse effects on the economy, environment, and overall well-being of the population.
4. Global Economic Shifts: Klug, Czaja, Reynolds, and Ray highlight the increasing dominance of emerging economies and the potential decline of American economic influence. They believe that if America fails to adapt and maintain its competitive edge, it could lead to a downward spiral in its global standing.
5. Fragmented Society: They also point to a fragmented society divided along various lines, including race, ethnicity, religion, and ideology. This fragmentation hinders unity and collaboration, making it difficult to address the challenges that threaten the country.
It is important to note that these suggestions may differ depending on the specific works or opinions of each author.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
Now loading...