Disabled Playwright and Actress Sued British Airways and London Airport for Damaging Wheelchair

Athena Stevens was flying to Glasgow from London last October when her wheelchair was severely damaged on the flight. She made a complaint but no formal apology has been given She alleged mishandling of her £25,000 ($35,000) wheelchair had made it become completely trashed.

Following the damage of her wheelchair in October, she told The Guardian that it had so far cost her £70,000 ($100,000). Athena Stevens, a 31-year old playwright, who had celebral palsy had to hire extra staffs and more cost on transportation while she continued her work to act in her play, Schism, at the Finborough Theatre in Brompton, London.

"It has completely closed my life down," she said. "I am acting, but that doesn't mean I am not inhibited. Not having my chair for rehearsals, getting to and from the theatre etc is a nightmare. I have had to spend £50 on a single taxi ride home."

The incident occurred in October when she flew from London to Glasgow. The Sun reported that she was told that her flight was delayed by two hours because they couldn't fit her chair into the hold. She claimed that airline staff forced her off the plane and broke her chair.

She filed a complaint in January, and she told the Independent regarding the incident, "I was denied access to the flight due to my disability – cerebral palsy – which is against the law. I'm used to humiliating things happening but that was wrong."

Her complaints was soon followed by support from the political activism campaigner 38 Degrees. The non-profit organization launched a petition to support her in getting British Airways to pay for a replacement of her wheelchair. So far the campaign has been supported by more than 52,000 people.

She filed a lawsuit against British Airways and London City Airport last month amid of losing around £1,500 ($2,150) in lost earnings and alternative transport costs. While it has also been a hundred days since her wheelchair has been broken by British Airways and London City Airport, and British Airways offered nowhere near enough compensation.

British Airways only give Athena Stevens a £680 ($980) refund for her return tickets which she and her assistant were unable to use according to Daily Mail. British Airways also offered to cover up to £1,100 ($1,500) in taxi fare before she launched the legal action. The airline and London City Airport have also promised to look into her issues, but they never made a prompt action.

Last month, the playwright and actress sued British Airways and London City Airport. She seeks a replacement fo her £25,000 ($35,000) wheelchair, which was was completely damaged in her flight from London to Glasgow last October.

Tags

British Airways, London City Airport, Athena Stevens, 38 Degrees

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