TV presenter Sophie Cook demands changes to aviation industry after wheelchair broken on flight

The disability activist from East Sussex is lobbying the government to take action

Author: Vanessa BellringerPublished 21st Feb 2023

TV presenter, Sophie Morgan, is lobbying the government to demand changes within the UK’s aviation industry.

The disability activist, from East Sussex, has launched the ‘RightsOnFlights’ campaign today (February 21) after being left on an empty plane for hours – only to have her wheelchair returned broken.

Sophie is now calling for legislation to empower the Civil Aviation Authority to impose fines on airlines for damaging wheelchairs or essential mobility devices, leaving disabled passengers for prolonged periods on flights once landed and failing to provide adequate assistance with advanced notice.

A joint letter to the government, written by SNP MP, Marian Fellows, claims high profile cases, like Sophie’s, are the ‘tip of the iceberg’ – with disabled passengers regularly suffering degrading substandard treatment at the hands of airlines and other actors.

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