Moorhead woman says Delta Airlines damaged daughter's wheelchair

Jun 17, 2023

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – A Moorhead woman is going after Delta Airlines through social media for apparently damaging her daughter’s electric wheelchair.

Marisa Loerzel is calling on Delta Airlines to improve accommodations for passengers with disabilities to avoid similar incidents for other passengers.

Her daughter, Addie has Spina Bifida and they both traveled to Maine where Addie participated in a pageant.

“Addie’s wheelchair was damaged on our way to Portland, Maine and also on our way home. So, not only did we have to file one baggage claim, we filed two. So, right now, we’re not batting very good. The major damage happened on June 27. She won’t be able to see her repair person from the company until July 10,” said Marisa Loerzel.

When they landed, they were called to an airport office to find Addie’s electric wheelchair, a symbol of her independence, not working properly and with broken pieces.

“Any mobility device a person uses is an extension of their body and when you don’t take care of their wheelchair, if you don’t take care of their mobility device, it really is an insult to the person. You’re portraying this message that, ‘you’re not as important as everybody else’, and, ‘you don’t deserve the same rights as everybody else.’ You don’t get the right to move. Addie just wants to move her body.”

Marisa says a man stepped up to help them put the missing pieces back together to make the wheelchair functional for the trip.

“If it wasn’t for that stranger that helped us in Portland and helped me figure out how to turn a power chair on without a power switch, I don’t know where we’d be right now.”

She says she has been in contact with Delta Airlines that says it plans to cover repair costs.

Like many with disabilities, Addie learned a hard truth when she was young.

“All the stuff we’ve been through is not fun but it shows us that, sometimes, life as a disabled person is not fair,” said Addie Loerzel.

“Addie’s not the problem. Addie’s disability is not the problem. The problem is the way society treats people with disabilities,” says Marisa Loerzel.

Marisa says since sharing her story on Facebook, she’s seeing more comments about how people with disabilities and their families are avoiding travel by plane, opting to drive instead.

For her and Addie, the situation is personal and a microcosm of a bigger issue where disability rights are overlooked.

“There’s lots of wonderful discussions on diversity, inclusion and justice but rarely does it include people with disabilities and we’re not hearing their voices. If we give them a spot at the table, we’re not giving them a chance to talk or be heard or make decisions that are impacting their lives,” Marisa Loerzel said.

Delta Airlines says it sincerely apologizes for the experience and states it will continue to work to improve the travel experience for customers with disabilities.