The Washington Post reports: “Airlines have lost or damaged more than 15,000 wheelchairs since late 2018. Roughly 29 wheelchairs a day have been mishandled by airlines since they were required to begin officially reporting numbers Roughly 29 wheelchairs a day have been mishandled by airlines since they were required to begin officially reporting numbers.” 

The number would be higher if it were not for COVID-19, the Post said, adding that many people think the numbers are underreported to begin with. Tammy Duckworth, the Senator who forced the reporting to begin, told the Post: 

“Every airline passenger deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, but too often that is not the case,” Duckworth, a double amputee, said in a statement in 2018. “I know from personal experience that when an airline damages a wheelchair, it is more than a simple inconvenience — it’s a complete loss of mobility and independence. It was the equivalent of taking my legs away from me again. No air traveler should be left in the lurch, immobile on a plane.”

Guess it does matter who you vote for!

To read the full article: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2021/06/07/wheelchair-scooter-damage-airplane-flights/

You can read the actual full DOT report (if you have the stomach for this kind of carnage) here:  https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2020-02/February%202020%20ATCR.pdf