Southwest Airlines passenger says gate agent mocked athletes with disabilities
FOX NEWS - A Southwest Airlines passenger claimed Thursday that a gate agent denied early boarding for two athletes with disabilities last month and then proceeded to mock them while they were waiting in line.
The alleged encounter took place Feb. 22, according to a tweet shared by the passenger.
Southwest told Fox News on Thursday night it was "disheartened" to hear the claims and vowed to investigate.
In the note - posted from the Twitter handle of Reign Athletics Dynasty, a competitive cheerleading organization based in Chicago - the passenger, apparently the team's coach, claimed the athletes were trying to board a flight to Atlanta when the gate agent started to poke fun at the pair.
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"We had checked in with the desk to receive our disability boarding pass prior to lining up," the tweet read. "When lined up, all other handicapped passengers were brought out into the plane. When it was our time to get on, the man checking in tickets looked at my sister and 'HAHA I can do that with my hand too and say I'm disabled.'"
The tweet went on to allege other Southwest employees at the gate "started laughing" and then started allowing families and Group A passengers to board without letting the athletes on.
"I of course, flipped out and demanded to speak to someone in charge," the tweet continued. "When this happened, another member looked at me and said 'Are you disabled? No. Those two are clearly faking it to get on early.'"