Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America.
Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand.
His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot.
American dance teacher and choreographer Abby Lee Miller recently flew on an 
American Airlines flight from Mexico to Dallas and has claimed that her wheelchair arrived in pieces after being damaged in flight. Miller, who is known from the television show Dance Moms, spoke out about the experience with People and the Virtual Reali-Tea podcast, outlining her experience.
Miller claims that on a recent flight to 
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), she was forced to be pushed out of the airport in a push chair after her motorized wheelchair arrived in pieces. She has asked the airline to 'do better'.
Miller's Wheelchair Arrived In Pieces After An American Airlines Flight
Following her late-evening arrival in Dallas/Fort Worth, Miller spoke out when her motorized wheelchair was delivered in pieces at 2:00 AM due to damage sustained during the flight. With the damage to a level that was unacceptable for Miller to keep using the wheelchair, this forced baggage handlers to push Miller out to her van in a push chair.
Miller has reiterated that it was 'absolutely awful', and that even the pilot was surprised by the level of damage that the wheelchair had sustained when it was delivered to the aircraft after the flight from Mexico. Simple Flying reached out to American Airlines for comment on the matter; however, an airline spokesperson could not be reached immediately. The airline did speak with People and shared the below message:
“We understand how important mobility devices are to the customers who rely on them, and we sincerely apologize to Ms. Miller for her experience. Our team has connected with her directly, provided a rental wheelchair and is working to complete repairs as quickly as possible.”
Wheelchair Arrived Scratched And Broken
Following the incident, Miller took to Instagram showcasing the state of her wheelchair, with pieces of the device having scratches and parts broken off, including the arm and headrest. Miller initially planned not to say anything, but as each day passed, she claimed that nobody had called.
Miller had been flying from Mazatlan (MZT) to Dallas/Fort Worth when it is alleged the wheelchair was damaged. The Dance Moms choreographer was connecting to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) on another American flight the next day and was provided a replacement chair by the Global Repair Group. Miller faced more delays on the flight to Buffalo when the ground crews were conflicted when discussing what type of battery the wheelchair was powered with and if it was permitted to travel.
This is not the first time that Miller has had to speak out publicly with negative reviews of American. Back in 2019, Miller stressed that the airline did not properly assist her when she fell out of her wheelchair after arriving from a flight into 
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).
Systemic Violations Of Disability Protection Laws
In 2024, American Airlines was issued a record $50 million penalty from the US Department of Transportation (DOT), after the carrier was found to have serious and systemic violations of disability protection laws in the years between 2019 and 2023. The violations that were found by the DOT noted that the carrier had unsafe and undignified physical assistance, and that, as a result, passengers experienced improper lifting or transfer techniques that could lead to physical injuries. Full details of the fine below:
|
Fined Airline |
American Airlines |
|---|---|
|
Penalty Amount |
$50 million |
|
Issuing Agency |
US Department Of Transportation |
|
Reason For Fine |
Repeated violations of disability law between 2019 and 2023 |
|
Payment Structure |
|
|
Significance |
Largest penalty in DOT history (25 times larger than any previous fine) |
American was found to have repeatedly failed to provide timely or prompt wheelchair support for passengers through the airport terminal, and the airline had damaged, delayed, or destroyed thousands of passengers' wheelchairs or scooters, which, as a result, left these travelers without their primary means of mobility.
The $50 million fine was the largest disability-related fine in DOT history, and saw the carrier pay $25 million directly to the US Treasury over three years, while the remaining $25 million was to be invested in wheelchair tracking and tagging systems, infrastructure upgrades, and direct compensation for affected passengers.