Disability rights recently took center stage in the news once again in a particularly demeaning way. As a Paralympian and wheelchair racing star, Richie Powell knows how to shred competitors on the track, but a recent run in with Eastern Airways left the 39-year-old British athlete stranded when he was told by an airline employee, “You can only fly if you walk up the steps (to the plane).”

Scheduled to fly from Bristol in southern England to Aberdeen, Scotland for a wheelchair race, Powell stated that he was “angry and embarrassed” by the blatant refusal of the British airline to allow him to walk with his arms instead of his legs.

Shameful Disability Rights First
“I have been flying all over the world to take part in wheelchair races,” said Powell. “This has never happened before.

"It's discrimination. They knew full well I was in a wheelchair. I'd told them when I phoned to check the flight had not been affected by the volcanic dust. I also flew with the same airline to Scotland for the race last year and there wasn't a problem."

According to Eastern Airways, the booking stated that Powell would be able to board the plane without assistance, which is exactly what Powell said he would do. However, airline personnel were unwilling to allow for his self-accommodation.

Disability Rights vs. "Safety Grounds"
Despite being told prior to his arrival that Powell was in a wheelchair, airline employees refused to allow the athlete to climb the stairs using his Herculean arms. They claimed it would violate safety issues.

"We booked the flights and used the same airline and booking process for the same event in 2009," a spokesperson for Eastern Airways stated. "The booking that was made on behalf of Mr. Powell highlighted that he needed wheelchair assistance but was able to climb the aircraft steps unaided.

"Unfortunately that wasn't the case and Mr. Powell was refused boarding on safety grounds."

Powell took a later flight and made it to the elite invitational race, but race results were unavailable at the time of publication. However, Jason Gill, who edged past Powell in the first two Balmoral 10k races, will be sure to thank Eastern Airways for the added distraction to his closest competitor.