An Air Canada passenger who relies on a wheelchair says flight crew staff from the airline dropped him on the airplane floor during his last two flights with them.
White Rock comedian Ryan Lachance, who often travels for his comedy shows, said in the wake of recent stories about how passengers with wheelchairs have been treated by the airline, he felt it was time to share his own experiences.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted to give a voice to people who have to go through things like thisB次元官网网址� if I have the courage to bring my story out there, they might do the same, and things might change,B次元官网网址� Lachance said.
Last month, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 chief accessibility officer and South Surrey resident Stephanie Cadieux, who relies on a wheelchair, was stranded in Vancouver when her wheelchair was left in Toronto.
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On Oct. 30, there were more stories in the news about a man with cerebral palsy who was reportedly, forced to drag himself off an Air Canada flight in front of dozens of passengers and airline staff in Las Vegas.
Since birth, Lachance has lived with quadspastic cerebral palsy, which limits the use of all four of his limbs and also his speech, and he must use a motorized wheelchair.
When he flew to Penticton in 2022 to do a comedy show, he said the airline was understaffed and B次元官网网址渘ot really trainedB次元官网网址� on how to pick him up properly.
B次元官网网址淭hey were transferring me from my airplane seat to whatB次元官网网址檚 called an aisle chair B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 kind of like a miniature wheelchair on wheels, that they put you on to wheel you out of the aircraft B次元官网网址� and they lost grip of me,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚 was trying to instruct them on what to do because IB次元官网网址檝e travelled numerous timesB次元官网网址� I bruised my back and I bruised my butt and I was in quite a bit of pain and I was there to deliver a show.B次元官网网址�
He didnB次元官网网址檛 report anything the first time, he said, because he just wanted to move on from the dehumanizing experience.
But it happened again when, after performing at a comedy festival in Halifax May 2023, he was travelling back to Vancouver on an Air Canda flight.
Lachance, who is accompanied by a care assistant and uses an eagle lift to help him move from his airplane seat into the aisle chair, said staff didnB次元官网网址檛 listen when he and his care assistant explained he needed the eagle lift and instead, tried to do the job themselves, again, dropping him in the process.
B次元官网网址淚 had bruises all over my body. I had to be on bed rest for four days. It was a lot more painful, and a lot more awkward, and it involved a lot more people and a lot more time. It was awful,B次元官网网址� the comedian said.
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His past two experiences did not make him feel good.
B次元官网网址�(I felt) put on display. It makes me extremely gun-shy to travel, even though I have to travel for work. It makes me afraid to fly. I want to expand my career to other parts of the country and the world.B次元官网网址�
The airline did offer him $500 in flight credits after he filed a formal complaint, he said, but he doesnB次元官网网址檛 feel thatB次元官网网址檚 enough.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been no, B次元官网网址榃e screwed up, weB次元官网网址檙e sorry.B次元官网网址� At this point, I want the president of Air Canada to apologize on behalf of the company B次元官网网址� not just to me, but to everybody else that this has happened to. YouB次元官网网址檙e not doing things right,B次元官网网址� Lachance said.
B次元官网网址淚 want them to fix their plane protocols, first of all, and train their staff with the proper way to transfer people and the proper way to use the equipment. I want to feel comfortable flying.B次元官网网址�
The Peace Arch B次元官网网址 has reached out to Air Canada for comment.
A poker tournament to benefit Lachance has been organized by his friends. It happens Sunday, Nov. 19 at 12:30 p.m. at the Crescent Beach Legion.It happens Sunday, Nov. 19 at 12:30 p.m. at the Crescent Beach Legion.
Despite his most recent experiences, the comedianB次元官网网址檚 sense of humour is still intact.
Asked what heB次元官网网址檚 going to do, he had quip ready, lightning-quick.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to try WestJet next time.B次元官网网址�
- with a file from Tom Zillich
