Barely days after Inclusive News published news of Ibom Air’s injustice to Mr Chidi Olujie by denying him flight on the flimpsy excuse of having no traveling companion (being deaf), another prominent personality in the Disability community, Mrs Helen Udoye Beyioku-Alase (fore-front Deaf advocate) has also narrated her experience.
Mrs. Udoye lamented the airline’s discriminatory attitude which cost her a flight from Lagos to Abuja the past week.
In a chat with our correspondent, Mrs Udoye, responding the rude denial of Hon Chidi Olujie from flying, recalled her own experience of similar injustice by Ibom Air.
Narrating her incident, she said: “This is the same issue I had with ibom Air last week. They made me miss my flight by keeping me stranded for over 45 minutes.
Read Also: Breaking: Ibom Air Denies Deaf Passenger Board As Victim Vows To Initiate Court Action.
Even more annoying was the daft explanations they gave, namely: “ That I ought to be at the departure lounge a couple hours before “take-off”. That was how I missed my scheduled flight. Meanwhile, I had arrived some 50 minutes before departure time. Their cold treatment was the worse thing I ever encountered in my life” Udoye lamented.
According to her, Ibom Air insisted that such was their policy. A visibly indignant Udoye continued, “I don’t even understand the rationale for this kind of treatment. It is like these people are saying we don’t have a right to board a flight to our destination. On what grounds? Because we are deaf?
According to her, after she missed the initial flight, she had to wait 3 days for a rescheduled flight for which additional charges was made by Ibom Air.
“The second time, I made sure I arrived 2hrs before departure time so I could find grounds to nail them for such nonsense policy. I was second in line this time around and when it was my turn to check in they discovered my deafness. Instantly, their expressions changed and they asked me to wait. I stood for more than 30 minutes in a vain wait. That was when I got fed up and threatened to do all I can to ensure I ruin their company and damaged everything they worked for should I miss my flight a second time. Shocked at my threats, they pleaded that we’re trying to find someone to accompany me because I am deaf.
I retorted, asking if this was my first time flying?”
The Deaf advocate continued: “the high rate of discrimination faced by PWDs when patronizing the various airlines is too much and uncalled for. This is time to sue them. It will serve as a lesson to every airline. You can’t imagine the frustration they are causing us, with many important events and appointments missed”, she concluded.