Accountability · Updated monthly from DOT data
Which airlines break the most wheelchairs?
Airlines report every wheelchair and scooter they check — and every one they damage, delay, or lose — to the U.S. Department of Transportation. In August 2026 that meant 813 mishandled wheelchairs and scooters out of 73,359 checked (1.11%). Since reporting began in December 2018: 69,183 devices.
August 2026 — ranked by mishandling rate
Operating carriers handling 500+ wheelchairs/scooters in the month. Lower is better.
| Rank | Airline | Checked | Mishandled | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delta Air Lines Inc.Best | 8,998 | 31 | 0.34% |
| 2 | Allegiant Air | 2,603 | 16 | 0.61% |
| 3 | Republic Airline | 1,232 | 10 | 0.81% |
| 4 | SkyWest Airlines Inc. | 3,432 | 29 | 0.84% |
| 5 | Southwest Airlines Co. | 22,648 | 250 | 1.10% |
| 6 | Envoy Air | 1,552 | 18 | 1.16% |
| 7 | Alaska Airlines Inc. | 4,754 | 56 | 1.18% |
| 8 | American Airlines Inc. | 10,373 | 132 | 1.27% |
| 9 | PSA Airlines Inc. | 976 | 13 | 1.33% |
| 10 | United Air Lines Inc. | 8,880 | 128 | 1.44% |
| 11 | Frontier Airlines Inc. | 4,878 | 80 | 1.64% |
| 12 | JetBlue AirwaysWorst | 3,033 | 50 | 1.65% |
Trailing 12 months — the fairer picture
One month can be luck. A year of handling tells you how an airline treats mobility equipment.
| Rank | Airline | Checked | Mishandled | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delta Air Lines Inc. | 116,049 | 472 | 0.41% |
| 2 | Allegiant Air | 32,299 | 209 | 0.65% |
| 3 | Republic Airline | 13,855 | 110 | 0.79% |
| 4 | SkyWest Airlines Inc. | 41,447 | 333 | 0.80% |
| 5 | Envoy Air | 16,529 | 159 | 0.96% |
| 6 | Southwest Airlines Co. | 261,384 | 3,006 | 1.15% |
| 7 | United Air Lines Inc. | 114,507 | 1,384 | 1.21% |
| 8 | PSA Airlines Inc. | 10,970 | 136 | 1.24% |
| 9 | Spirit Air Lines | 14,125 | 179 | 1.27% |
| 10 | American Airlines Inc. | 115,493 | 1,593 | 1.38% |
| 11 | Alaska Airlines Inc. | 49,262 | 684 | 1.39% |
| 12 | JetBlue Airways | 33,544 | 481 | 1.43% |
| 13 | Frontier Airlines Inc. | 46,591 | 723 | 1.55% |
Your chair was one of these numbers? The airline owes you repair or replacement at its cost. The airport playbook — and log the incident so it becomes part of the public record.
Common questions
How often do airlines damage wheelchairs?
In August 2026, US reporting airlines checked 73,359 wheelchairs and scooters and mishandled 813 — a rate of 1.11%, or roughly 1 in 90 devices. Since reporting began in December 2018, airlines have reported mishandling 69,183 wheelchairs and scooters.
Which airline damages the most wheelchairs?
In August 2026, JetBlue Airways had the highest mishandling rate (1.65%) among carriers handling 500+ devices, while Delta Air Lines Inc. had the lowest (0.34%). Rankings shift monthly — the 12-month table gives the fairer long-run picture.
What can I do if an airline breaks my wheelchair?
The airline owes repair or replacement at its cost under the Air Carrier Access Act and the 2024 DOT wheelchair rule. Before leaving the airport, ask for the Complaint Resolution Official and demand a written damage report, then file with DOT — DOT complaints are what move these public numbers.
Methodology & source
Data comes from BTS Form 234.6 (“Mishandled Baggage, Wheelchairs and Scooters”), the same airline-reported filings behind the DOT's monthly Air Travel Consumer Report, retrieved from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics TranStats database. We show operating-carrier reports (the airline that actually flew the plane and handled the equipment). Monthly rankings include carriers handling at least 500 devices that month; 12-month rankings require 5,000. Mishandled = damaged, delayed, lost, or pilfered, as defined by DOT. Reporting began December 2018. This page updates when DOT publishes new monthly data.