Ms. Wheelchair America Says Delta Broken Her Customized Chair

[ad_1] by Kandiss Edwards February 20, 2026

Delta officers mentioned that the airline will cowl the complete value of repairs for Sturdivant’s wheelchair.

Delta Air Strains has pledged to restore the custom-made wheelchair of Ms. Wheelchair America 2026, who mentioned the airline broken it throughout a latest flight, leaving her unable to journey for her advocacy work.

Latavia Sturdivant mentioned that on her manner from South Dakota to New York, she found her wheelchair had been broken after the plane landed, Sturdivant informed ABC7. The wheelchair, which she makes use of for mobility and bodily alignment, was returned inoperable.

Sturdivant, who lives in Yonkers, mentioned the wheelchair serves as her legs. She is now housebound.

“There isn't any different chair that I can use as a result of it retains my physique in correct alignment, prevents me from having contractions, and so Delta must do higher in taking correct care of our wheelchairs,” Sturdivant mentioned.

In a press release to ABC7, Delta mentioned it acknowledged the affect {that a} broken mobility support can have on a person’s every day life and expressed remorse for the state of affairs.

“Delta understands the elemental affect that any broken mobility support has on a person and their every day life. We sincerely apologize for this buyer’s expertise that didn't reside as much as our requirements, and we're in contact with them to make sure we make issues proper,” the airline mentioned.

@1010wins923 The reigning Ms. Wheelchair America mentioned she’s homebound in Yonkers after her chair was broken on a flight final month. “That is my livelihood, my wheelchair is my legs,” Latavia Sturdivant mentioned Tuesday. “If I don’t have my legs, I can’t be a productive member of society.” Practically a month after her chair was badly broken on a Delta flight, she will’t get round and her job as a speech language pathologist is on maintain. Delta Air Strains has agreed to pay for the complete value of repairs to her wheelchair, nevertheless it’s taking some time. “Medicaid isn’t reimbursing sufficient, they’re solely reimbursing at a 1987 fee, so all of the unbiased suppliers have shut down,” Sturdivant mentioned. She’s pushing for higher insurance coverage protection for some of these repairs. “If we will get sufficient reimbursement, we will presumably get extra unbiased suppliers within the area to service us with this gear,” she mentioned. 🎤 @mackrosenberg1010 reviews 📸 Mack Rosenberg 🔊 Tune into 1010 WINS at 92.3 FM for extra native information #newyorkcity #nyc #nycnews #westchester #yonkers

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Delta officers mentioned that the airline will cowl the complete value of repairs for Sturdivant’s wheelchair. The corporate made no additional touch upon how the harm occurred.

Sturdivant informed the station that the harm has rendered her “caught” at her house in Yonkers, hampering her work as an advocate for folks with disabilities.

The incident has raised considerations about how airways deal with mobility gadgets and the broader results on vacationers who depend on them for every day life. A Division of Transportation rule that went into impact in 2025 requires airways to supply restore or alternative if a wheelchair is mishandled, and mandates coaching necessities for workers who deal with such gadgets.