Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Airline defends decision to remove quadriplegic

By STEVE HUETTEL
Published February 25, 2005

US Airways is defending a decision to remove a quadriplegic passenger from a flight at Tampa International Airport after he had difficulty breathing.

Phillip Barrett's ventilator became disconnected as crew members helped store his carry-on luggage, and he appeared to be in distress until a companion got it working again, the airline wrote Barrett this week.

That led US Airways to refuse to fly him on Feb. 12 "in the interests of your safety and in full accordance with the law," said Debra Thompson, the airline's consumer affairs director.

Barrett, 33, has said he has flown with the ventilator many times before, including flights on US Airways. He had surgery last week to help him breathe on his own and won't comment until he recovers, said Todd Wiseman, a spokesman for Barrett.

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist pledged to continue an investigation into the incident, calling US Airways' response to Barrett "disappointing and callous." "We have been completely cooperative and forthcoming with the Attorney General's office and have documented that our actions were in full compliance with federal law," said US Airways spokesman David Castelveter. Paralyzed in a diving accident 13 years ago, Barrett was flying to Cleveland for surgery. When he checked in at Tampa International, he said he didn't need in-flight oxygen US Airways provides for a fee, the airline said.

When his ventilator became disconnected on the plane, US Airways said, crew members heard alarms and saw that Barrett's companion was having trouble getting the machine working.

US Airways' says its terms of transportation allow it to refuse to fly those who need life-support equipment.

[Last modified February 25, 2005, 00:51:16]