WASHINGTON _ Airlines damaged at least 701 wheelchairs and motorized scooters in a single month _ an average of more than 25 a day, according to the first such data reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation under a new law championed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
Among the hundreds of wheelchairs damaged between Dec. 4 and 31 last year was one belonging to Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat and combat veteran and double amputee. She pushed for the law after her own wheelchair was damaged multiple times during airline travel.
December was the first month airlines had to report publicly how many customers' wheelchairs or scooters they broke or lost.
