Delta Air Lines has issued a groveling apology to a Marine veteran and police officer with prosthetic legs who was humiliated after allegedly being forced to move out of a plane’s exit row.
Matias Ferreira, 36, has filed a lawsuit against the company claiming he was removed from his seat before a flight out of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport in May.
Ferreira lost his legs in 2011 while deployed in Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) that exploded.
Despite the catastrophic injury, Ferreira decided to enroll in the police academy when he returned home to Long Island and has served in the Suffolk County Police Department for 10 years.
His lawsuit claims that while he had informed the staff of his job credentials and previously sat in the exit row, he was ultimately instructed to move to another seat due to his prosthetics.
A Delta spokesperson said the company has apologized to Ferreira and has taken ‘corrective actions.’
‘[Delta] immediately looked into this situation, apologized to the customer, issued a refund and compensation and took appropriate corrective actions internally,’ the spokesperson told People.
‘Delta has a decades-long record of championing accessible travel for all and listening to the community via our Advisory Board on Disability and Accessible Travel. We will respond to the litigation in due course.’
Matias Ferreira (pictured), 36, has filed a lawsuit against Delta claiming he was forced to move out of a plane’s exit row due to his prosthetics
Ferreira (pictured with his wife) is a Marine veteran and police office from Long Island. He said despite his qualifications, he was forced to leave the exit row
Ferreira addressed the apology in a Facebook post, writing: ‘Yes, Delta did send a “Generic” letter “Not signed” stating that they apologize, and “For clarification, passengers using prosthetics are not prohibited from sitting in an exit row.”‘
He also stated that he filed the lawsuit to bring awareness about prosthetics and to show that ‘every person who wants to sit and can sit in that seat and make a difference.’
‘I understand that the decision stems from a lack of awareness about prosthetics and engineering over the years,’ Ferreira wrote.
‘Many people who haven’t kept up with the times still believe we can’t compete, live, or do things like someone with both arms and legs.
‘I’m here to spread love and positivity in our community. I believe in every child who was told they couldn’t do something and now competes at the highest levels. I’m doing this for veterans who struggle with public speaking because of anxiety, depression, and fear of not being accepted.’
Ferreira’s attorney, Norman Steiner, told the Daily Mail that his firm is representing the veteran pro bono to send a message.
‘The purpose of this lawsuit is to prevent similar occurrences from occurring again,’ Steiner said.
Passengers seated in the exit row are asked at the beginning of the flight if they are capable of helping others in the event of an emergency.
Ferreira lost his legs in 2011 while deployed in Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) that exploded
Ferreira said his lawsuit is about bringing awareness to prosthetics and to show that ‘every person who wants to sit and can sit in that seat and make a difference’
Delta’s policy states that passengers may not sit in an exit seat if they they ‘lack sufficient mobility, strength, or dexterity in both arms and hands, and both legs to reach the emergency exit, operate the exit and exit expeditiously,’ per the company website.
Ferreira agreed to the responsibility when asked by Delta’s flight attendants, but was still told that he had to move seats.
‘I felt like I was viewed as a liability, not as a United States Marine, not as a police officer, not as a father of two, not as a person who golfs and skydives and shoots and does all sorts of stuff,’ he told the New York Post.
Ferreira added that the ordeal was humiliating and made him feel like he was ‘stripped away’ of all his accomplishments as a double amputee.
Steiner called the incident a ‘devastating blow’ to Ferreira and argued that Delta’s actions were ‘spiritual amputation.’
‘They don’t have a prosthetic that can give you back your sense of self and your sense of purpose,’ the attorney said.
Ferreira said that on his return flight, he noticed that a safety pamphlet in the front of his seat even had a drawing of a man with a prosthetic leg helping during an emergency.
Ferreira’s lawyer said the intention is to raise awareness of the alleged discriminatory practices against amputees.
Steiner said that ‘all Mr Ferreira (and the firm) wants is better training to the crews to ensure this unfortunate occurrence does not occur again.’
