The Department of Transportation issued a $50 million fine against American Airlines Wednesday for mistreating passengers with disabilities.

According to the DOT, American had the worst track record of major U.S. airlines for damaging wheelchairs and other mobility devices between 2019 and 2023, and also performed poorly in providing prompt wheelchair assistance and dignified transfers for passengers with disabilities. One incident the DOT highlighted was a November 2023 episode during which American baggage handlers dropped a wheelchair down a baggage ramp.

“The era of tolerating poor treatment of airline passengers with disabilities is over,” DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “With this penalty, we are setting a new standard of accountability for airlines that violate the civil rights of passengers with disabilities. By setting penalties at levels beyond a mere cost of doing business for airlines, we’re aiming to change how the industry behaves and prevent these kinds of abuses from happening in the first place.”

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