Media Tip Sheets

Expert Available: American Airlines Facing $50 million Fine

Thursday, October 24, 2024, By Ellen Mbuqe
Syracuse University legal scholar and parent of a wheelchair user is available to comment on the news that American Airlines is facing a $50 million fine by the US Department of Transportation over its treatment of travelers who use wheelchairs.
Cora True-Frost is a professor of law at Syracuse University and an expert in human rights, international law, and constitutional law. As a parent of a wheelchair user, she is well acquainted with the challenges of navigating airports (both domestic and international) and the damage done to wheelchairs during travel.
Professor True-Frost commented on the issue:
  • “The current state of aviation, even in the wealthiest countries in the world, is too often punishing to passengers who rely on mobility devices or have disabilities. Air travel remains unique in its inaccessibility, as it still requires wheelchair users to forfeit their mobility devices in order to board planes, unlike, bus, subway, trains, boats or taxi transport. Airlines have not invested sufficiently in ensuring the safety of disabled passengers,” said True-Frost.

Please contact Ellen James Mbuqe, executive director of media relations, at ejmbuqe@syr.edu to schedule an interview.