Delaware County Family Says American Airlines Employees Damaged Daughter's Wheelchair

AUTHORITIES ARE STILL TRYING TOFIGURE OUT WHAT CAUSED TAKEDRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL.NEW AT 11:00, A DELAWARECOUNTY FAMILY IS DEMANDINGACTION FROM AMERICAN AIRLINES.THEY SAY BAGGAGE HANDLERSBADLY DAMAGED THEIR YOUNGDAUGHTER'S SPECIALIZEDWHEELCHAIR.EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTERKIMBERLY DAVIS REPORTS.WE WENT TO DISNEY WORLD, TOOKA FAMILY VACATION.Reporter: PART OF THECHARLTON FAMILY TRADITION AROUNDCHRISTMAS TIME.THE FAMILY OF FIVE PACKS UP ANDHEADS TO THE HAPPIEST PLACE INTHE WORLD.DID YOU HAVE FUN.IT WAS A BLAST, HAD A LOT OFFUN GOT TO RIDE RIDES.Reporter: LIFE IS NOT NORMAL,EIGHT YEARS OLD GRAYSON CHARLTONHAS A SPINAL INJURY AND ISUNABLE TO WALK AND ONJANUARY 10TH LIFE GOT MOREDIFFICULT AFTER AN AMERICANAIRLINES EMPLOYEE DROPPED OFFHER WHEELCHAIR.WHEN WE GOT OFF THE AIRPLANEI REALIZED IT WAS NOT PUSHINGTHE WAY IT SHOULD, IT DIDN'TFEEL RIGHT.Reporter: THAT'S BECAUSE ITWASN'T WRIT.THE SUPPORT WHEEL WAS BENT ANDHER BRAKES WERE ALSO BROKEN.AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFULATTEMPTS TO RECEIVE THE HELPTHEY NEEDED FROM AMERICANAIRLINES, THEY WENT TO SOCIALMEDIA.I GOT ON TWITTER ANDUNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS LIKE THESOCIAL MEDIA SHAME IS WHAT THEYNEEDED AND IMMEDIATELY SOMEONERESPONDED.OH, GOSH, WE'RE SO SORRY THISHAPPENED.THE FAMILY TELLS ME THAT'SJUST IT.THIS PROBLEM SHOULDN'T HAVEAMERICAN AIRLINES WILL REPAIRTHE WHEELCHAIR, BUT NOW GRAYSONWILL NOT BE MOBILE FOR SEVERALWEEKS.THE PROBLEM IS, YOU'RE NOTHANDLING THESE PROPERLY ANDYOU'RE TALKING AWAY PEOPLE'SINDEPENDENCE WHEN YOU DAMAGETHESE CHAIRS.AND IT'S JUST NOT OKAY.REPORTER: AMERICAN AIRLINESSENT US THIS STATEMENT READINGIN PART, WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TOTAKE EXTRA CARE OF MOBILITYDEVICES TRANSPORTED ON OURAIRCRAFT AND HAVE IMPLEMENTEDSPECIAL HANDLING PROCEDURES TOENSURE CUSTOMERS OF ALLABILITIES HAVE A POSITIVE TRAVELEXPERIENCE.IN THIS INSTANCE WE FELL SHORTAND THANK THE CHARLTON FAMILYFOR SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCE SOWE CAN IMPROVE.THE CHARLTONS TELL ME THEY WILLBE TAKING EXTRA PRECAUTIONS