CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Following a joint investigation by the Department of Transportation and civil rights division of the Justice Department, numerous serious violations of disabled passenger rules were committed by American Airlines. The investigation focused on the range of time between 2019 and 2023. According to CNN reports, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told reporters that American mishandled and damaged “thousands” of wheelchairs and failed to provide adequate assistance to disabled passengers, causing significant safety issues and an inconvenience for customers. In a social media post early Monday morning on the US DOT “X” page, staff stated the government is holding the airline accountable for repeatedly violating the rights of wheelchair users. Secretary Buttigieg added, “Everyone has the right to travel with dignity and respect, and “the era of mistreating airline passengers with disabilities is over.”