■ "Two disabled people denied boarding at airport" follow-up report. According to the Beijing News (reporter Lu Man, Liu Zhenni, Li Meilin), on December 28th last year, two disabled individuals were about to board a Shenzhen Airlines flight from Beijing to Shenzhen when they were persuaded to reschedule their flights due to concerns that "disabled people would be unable to retreat in case of an emergency during the flight." After negotiations, the two signed an "exemption agreement" before being allowed to board (reported by our newspaper the previous day).
Yesterday, Liu Jingwen, the caregiver for the two disabled individuals, said that after the New Year, they would formally file a public interest lawsuit against Shenzhen Airlines. The specific compensation amount is still under discussion, and any awarded compensation will be used as a care fund to support barrier-free travel for disabled individuals.
Lawyers consider filing a public interest lawsuit
Liu Jingwen stated yesterday that after the incident, many lawyers and legal experts across the country expressed their willingness to provide legal support. Yesterday, three volunteer lawyers from Shenzhen formed an implementation committee and will officially file a public interest lawsuit against Shenzhen Airlines after the New Year. The compensation amount is still under negotiation. "The outcome doesn't matter; what's important is this process, we need to make our stance clear," Liu Jingwen said.
Any compensation received will be used as a care fund to support barrier-free travel for disabled individuals.
Shenzhen Airlines claims "denial of boarding" was out of safety considerations
The day before, Shenzhen Airlines issued a written response regarding this issue.
In the response, it was stated that in the event of an emergency, passengers must be able to quickly cooperate with the crew to complete evacuation procedures to ensure their own safety. However, special passengers require assistance from the crew to do so. Therefore, the Civil Aviation Administration has set regulations for special passengers flying, where airlines not only have requirements for the mobility capabilities of special passengers but also limit the number of special passengers.
A relevant person in charge of Shenzhen Airlines said that for safety reasons, special passengers are required to apply 36 hours in advance or inform the airline when purchasing tickets. Generally, each flight should not exceed two special passengers.
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