Photo: File photo.
A British Columbia woman claims she was injured after asking for a wheelchair while disembarking from an Air Canada flight at Vancouver International Airport.
A woman who claims she was injured when she disembarked from an Air Canada flight alone after asking for help at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is suing both organizations.
In a civil notice of action filed in B.C. Supreme Court on January 9, Judith Marlene Morgan alleges that the airline, YVR and her wheelchair provider failed in their duty to assist her.
According to the complaint, Morgan was on an Air Canada flight from San Francisco to Vancouver on January 16, 2022.
She said she requested wheelchair assistance in Vancouver when she checked in at San Francisco International Airport.
Morgan claimed that Air Canada “failed or refused to provide wheelchair support” when she deplaned in Vancouver.
She asked again as she exited the plane, court documents say.
According to the complaint, Morgan was asked to go up the bridge and into the elevator. The elevator then took her to a place where she could ride her YVR golf cart.
“Plaintiff was obligated to walk off the plane,” the complaint states. “While walking from the plane to the YVR golf cart, Plaintiff fell and fell to the ground, sustaining serious injuries.”
Morgan said she suffered fractures to her right arm and hip that required surgery, and damage to her face, teeth and soft tissue.
Morgan is suing for future care costs and loss of earning capacity.
She is seeking damages for prescriptions, care, housekeeping and other items, as well as special damages.
This argument asserts that airlines are responsible for the safety of passengers onboard or while boarding or disembarking from a flight.
YVR maintains that it is responsible for passenger safety and accessibility within the airport.
A third defendant, known as ABC Company, is named as the person responsible for wheelchair assistance at the airport.
Both the airline and YVR told Glacier Media that they could not comment on the matter as it is currently being litigated in court.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.