Wheelchair-Bound CEO Barred from British Airways JFK Flight

A prominent disability rights advocate and model has accused British Airways of discrimination after she was allegedly barred from boarding a flight at JFK Airport because she uses a wheelchair and was traveling without a companion.

Samanta Bullock, founder of Bullock Inclusion, says airline staff refused to allow her to board a London-bound flight last weekend despite having proper documentation, according to New York Post.

The 47-year-old businesswoman revealed the incident on social media, stating she was turned away not for any ticketing, safety, or documentation issues, but solely because of her disability. Staff allegedly told her the crew could not assist her with restroom access during the flight or evacuate her in an emergency situation.

I was denied because I am disabled and traveling independently, Bullock wrote in her social media post.

Bullock emphasized that she has traveled independently for many years, and pointed out the financial burden such policies place on disabled travelers. Requiring a companion would force disabled passengers to purchase two tickets instead of one, effectively charging them more for the same mobility rights that able-bodied travelers enjoy without question, she argued.

After spending several hours at the terminal, airline staff eventually transferred Bullock to an American Airlines flight without her consent, where she faced similar questioning about her ability to travel alone.

The Brazilian-born advocate is now pursuing legal action against the airlines, stating she has documented and recorded the entire incident. She believes the treatment constitutes clear disability discrimination and intends to protect not only her own rights but those of other disabled travelers.

The timing of the incident adds another layer of irony to the situation. Bullock had just finished attending the Bullock Inclusion Future of Fashion Show in New York and the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations headquarters. She noted the stark contrast between the inclusive rhetoric at the UN conference and her actual experience with British Airways.

Bullock’s personal story makes her advocacy particularly powerful. She was a child model and tennis player before a near-fatal gunshot wound at age 14 left her paralyzed and wheelchair-bound. She went on to become Brazil’s number one wheelchair tennis player, placed second in wheelchair tennis doubles at the 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, and performed at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

British Airways responded to the allegations with an apology, stating the company is urgently investigating the incident and remains in direct contact with Bullock while reviewing what occurred.

With information from New York Post