Disabled rights chief told: Don't board plane if you can't walk

The chairman of the Disability Rights Commission was barred from boarding a plane yesterday because he cannot walk.

The chairman of the Disability Rights Commission was barred from boarding a plane yesterday because he cannot walk.

Bert Massie, 50, said he had told ScotAirways he was in a wheelchair and needed to be lifted on and off the aircraft. He checked in and went through security at City Airport in London but staff at the boarding gate refused to let him on.

There were only three steps to the airplane and Mr Massie offered to go on his backside or said his friend could carry him on but staff refused and he missed the flight to Edinburgh.

He had been supposed to speak at the annual conference of the Association of Directors of Social Services. "It was absolutely appalling," he said. "I was angry and frustrated."

ScotAirways is a small company of seven aircraft, which serves three routes into Scotland and several to mainland Europe from City airport.

Merlin Suckling, the director and owner of the company, said it was a well-publicised policy that the airline did not allow wheelchair-bound people to fly on its planes because the narrow stairs did not allow someone to be carried on.

Mr Massie said: "They said if I couldn't walk up the steps I couldn't get on the plane."

The Disability Discrimination Act is supposed to uphold disabled people's rights but airlines are not covered by the law because of the international nature of the business.