New documentary on issues faced by disabled air travellers

British TV presenter Sophie Morgan’s documentary on the issues faced by disabled people - particularly those with restricted mobility - when travelling by flights is set to release July 22 at 9 pm BST on Channel 4. 

The film - chronicling the experiences of multiple disabled travellers - follows Morgan as she campaigns for more awareness and sensitivity toward disabled people using mobility devices such as wheelchairs to travel by air. 

Morgan’s mission to make air travel equitable for all started early last year when, on a flight back from USA to the UK, her carrier damaged her wheelchair. 

At the time, her social media posts about the incident went viral, prompting her to start a campaign that is now called Rights On Flights. 

Asked what kinds of problems disabled people often face on flights, Morgan said: “It starts from the minute you book: sometimes airlines can be really difficult and refuse you travel if your wheelchair is a certain height, or a certain width, or over a certain weight, or if your battery is a certain size. And that's if the website is particularly accessible digitally anyway — this is not just about wheelchair users, there are problems across the board for all types of people, with different types of disabilities.” 

While the documentary itself chronicles experiences ranging all the way from people having to drag themselves to the aircraft toilet to others having to starve and dehydrate themselves while on board to yet others whose mobility aids have suffered damage. 

Morgan points out that it’s not even necessarily only the fault of the staff being under-trained - the entire system is, in fact, ableist. 

India, too, is fighting the good fight against ableism in air travel. Last year, on a flight to Mumbai from Delhi, activist Virali Modi was left behind in an aeroplane for almost 40 minutes after all other passengers had deplaned. 

The campaign has seen Morgan visit Downing Street as well as the White House, calling for better legislation to ensure a better air travel experience for people with disabilities. 

As for the documentary, it covers the campaign from the beginning, the reason for its establishment, Morgan’s aims and goals, as well as the harrowing journeys of other wheelchair users, who have gone undercover and filmed their experiences for the purpose of the film. 

“I'm delighted that (the campaign) was successful, but I'm gutted that it happened — it's quite shocking what we uncover, but in many ways it's not shocking. Every time these stories come out, the non-disabled community kind of go 'oh my gosh, that is shocking, I had no idea' and we're like 'we're trying to tell you! This happens to us all the time!’ Morgan said. 

Ever since starting the campaign, Morgan adds, some airlines have taken note while others still haven’t. 

“I hope the airline industry sits up and takes notice, I hope they realise that we aren't going anywhere, that they have to meet the problems head-on. There's a real opportunity here for an airline to lead the way and be better, and I can't wait for that airline to really step up and embrace that.”