A deaf woman booked a flight with Delta, only to be surprised when the airline brought out a wheelchair to take her down the jet bridge.
In a video with more than 1.8 million views, TikToker Brooke (@ebrookemack) shared her experience. She expressed slight frustration at the confusion over her disability.
“I’m currently at Delta. I’m in a wheelchair because they think that it’s going to help my deafness and my hard-of-hearing and get my hearing back,” she said. “But I do have legs, so we’re just enjoying the ride.”
Delta listed her need for a wheelchair as “deaf,” based on its internal system. She was escorted by an attendant to her flight despite not needing a wheelchair, and possibly not needing an attendant with her.
“You know, after this ride in the wheelchair I think I can hear perfectly,” she said sarcastically.
Why does Delta put its deaf passengers in wheelchairs?
It is possible that Brooke accidentally received a wheelchair because the company mistakenly assigned her one.
Delta has a page for “Accessible Services” that includes a tab to request airport wheelchairs, aisle wheelchairs, or other assistive devices. This landing page works after submitting trip information on the company’s website. It gives users access to any necessary accommodations they need to fill out. The company still has to accommodate and review those requests, leading to possible internal errors.
Delta may have inadvertently given Brooke a wheelchair as an accommodation. However, it’s unclear at the time whether that’s the case, or whether Delta deliberately gave her a wheelchair. It’s also possible that anyone who applies for a disability may get a wheelchair or an attendant to walk with them. Perhaps to avoid potential issues while boarding and getting to a flight.
Commenters react to the passenger’s experience
Some commenters expressed their thoughts on why Delta may have had Brooke use a wheelchair to get to her flight.
“I actually think I might understand this from a liability standpoint. If you’re in a crowd and don’t hear something important, it could lead to you getting injured. They could be sued. It’s silly but I can see a risk management team thinking this way,” one commenter wrote.
Another commenter echoed a similar sentiment, saying that Air Canada gave them a wheelchair as an accommodation for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
@ebrookemack I am no longer deaf. Bless the wheelchair Delta supplied me with @delta #delta ♬ original sound – eBrookeMack
The Mary Sue has reached out to Brooke via TikTok direct message and Delta’s press team for comment.
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