A paraplegic man is suing Luton airport after dragging himself through the arrivals hall when his self-propelling wheelchair was left behind on a flight.
Justin Levene refused help from staff, who offered to push him on a rigid, high-backed wheelchair, which he said restricted his independence, the BBC reported.
The 20-year-old from north London had asked if he could be transported in a motorised buggy, but Luton airport did not have one.
He told the BBC he felt “humiliated and degraded” and that dragging himself was the only option.
Levene, who said he travels regularly, said every other airport he has travelled through has had suitable equipment.
Suing Luton, he claims the airport did not provide adequate disability equality and awareness training to staff.
In a statement, the airport said: “On discovering that Mr Levene’s flight had arrived without his wheelchair, our teams worked hard to find a solution, offering Mr Mr Levene an assisted wheelchair as a temporary replacement,
“Mr Levene declined all offers of help as he deemed them unacceptable.
“While we apologise if Mr Levene was dissatisfied with the service he received, we are satisfied that our agents and staff did all they could in difficult circumstances.”