A Melbourne wheelchair user was left immobilised at an airport gate last Friday evening, after he was told by Qantas staff that they could not find someone to get his wheelchair off the plane.
Staff shortages have recently caused a mass of flights to be cancelled, but as the rest of the passengers filtered out of the airport it became clear that shortages can also have disastrous consequences for disabled passengers.
James Wood is a frequent flyer, he travels Australia speaking about the workplace accident that broke his spine - but on a recent trip home he was reminded of just how much his life has changed by being in a wheelchair.
Last off the plane, he was left stranded at the gate after disembarking from a Qantas flight in Melbourne, with his wheelchair nowhere in sight.
“Qantas, I just want to let you know I’ve been sitting in an aisle chair for the last 15 to 20 minutes,” he said in a video posted straight to Instagram from the gate.
“My plane landed, I was last off the plane, it’s a Friday night, I wanna get home.
“Apparently you can’t get someone to get my wheelchair off the plane.
“My wheelchair is my legs.
Qantas told 7NEWS.com.au that it would follow up the incident.
“We have reached out to Mr Wood to sincerely apologise for his experience,” the airline said.
“Unfortunately, like many industries, aviation is experiencing staff shortages as a result of rising COVID cases, which can lead to some delays of airport processes.