A mother has accused Delta Air Lines of removing her family from a flight after crew members raised concerns about the mobility scooter used by her young son, who has achondroplasia, a form of skeletal dysplasia. Erin Kasey said the same device had been accepted on two earlier Delta flights that week before the family was told to leave a service from Florida to Atlanta.

Although Kasey initially questioned Delta's decision, she later said the disagreement involved the scooter's lithium-ion battery. She said the battery was small enough to meet airline requirements and that the family subsequently travelled with the device on an American Airlines flight.

Mother Questions Removal From Third Delta Flight

Kasey said the Florida-to-Atlanta trip was the family's third Delta flight that week. They had completed two earlier journeys with the scooter without difficulty, she said, but staff objected on the third.

She said representatives spoke to her husband, then prevented him from speaking to her before instructing the family to leave. Kasey described the experience as 'ridiculous'.

In her account, Kasey said staff did not give her an opportunity to discuss the issue before the family was told to disembark.

Earlier acceptance does not guarantee later carriage: aircraft type, storage and battery arrangements can affect how a device is transported.

Delta Rules Cover Battery-Powered Mobility Scooters

Delta's accessibility guidance says it transports manual and battery-powered personal mobility devices, including scooters. It recommends that passengers provide details at least 48 hours before travelling, including the device's measurements and battery type, and bring a completed Mobility Device Handling Form. Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead.

The airline warns that checking dimensions does not guarantee a device will fit a particular aircraft. Some equipment may need disassembly or hold storage, depending on the aircraft. Delta advises passengers to contact it if a scooter exceeds cargo-door or hold dimensions.

Delta also asks for disassembly instructions and battery information. Some devices may need to be taken apart and checked, while others can be stowed upright in the hold.

Federal Aviation Administration rules distinguish between mobility devices according to battery type and protection. For lithium-ion-powered wheelchairs and scooters, a battery may need to be removed and carried in the cabin, or remain installed while the device is checked, depending on its protection.

For mobility devices whose lithium-ion batteries are not adequately protected by the device's design, the FAA requires the battery to be removed and limits it to 300 watt-hours. A battery that is adequately protected may remain installed, subject to other safety requirements.

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US Disability Law Sets Limits on Refusing Passengers

The US Department of Transportation says the Air Carrier Access Act prohibits airlines from refusing transport because of a passenger's disability. An airline may refuse carriage on safety grounds, but if it excludes a passenger with a disability for that reason, it must provide a written explanation.

However, the law does not guarantee that every mobility device can be transported on every aircraft. Under federal regulations, airlines must accept a passenger's battery-powered wheelchair or similar mobility device, including its battery, as checked baggage when cargo-compartment size and aircraft airworthiness considerations permit, subject to applicable battery-safety requirements.

Passengers can ask to speak to an airline's Complaint Resolution Official, or CRO, when staff cannot resolve a disability-related issue. Airlines must make a CRO available at the airport or by telephone.

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