Ethiopian Airlines Accused of Blocking Disabled Kenyan Man from US-Bound Flight

A disabled Kenyan man has accused Ethiopian Airlines of refusing to let him board a flight on Tuesday, allegedly for being in a wheelchair.

In a series of tweets, Harun M. Hassan says he was traveling to the United States from Nairobi when Ethiopian staff denied him to board.

Hassan, an author and crusader of rights for disabled persons, said he was stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after the incident.

“They left me alone and stranded with no options,” he wrote.

“My first time with @flyethiopian and my first to be discriminated by an airline on the basis of my disability,” he said in another tweet.

He shared a photo of a female staff at the check-in counter who declined to listen to his explanation about his ticket.

"Today was denied to travel 2 USA by @flyethiopian bcoz of my wheelchair. The lady in yellow was rude & insensitive. She said no provision for assistance."

Responding to his tweet, the giant airline asked Hassan to share his travel details for investigations.

"Dear Harun
Sorry for what happened to you. Please DM your travel detail for further investigation of the case," Ethiopian said.

Hassan says Ethiopian later apologized and offered to have him fly Business Class, but on condition that he deletes his tweets. 

"@flyethiopian contacted me 4 apologies & offered opportunity of flying a Business Class. However, they requested a pull-down of my Twitter& FB posts."

"I declined. I rather fly Economy with respect than a knee jerk inspired ‘comfort'. I'm flying 2day a different airline," he tweeted on Wednesday.