Southwest Accused of Leaving 2 Blind Passengers Behind
Southwest Airlines is under scrutiny after two blind passengers were inadvertently left behind during a gate change—only to end up flying alone to their destination. According to The Guardian, Camille Tate and Sherri Brun, both from Florida, had booked a July 14 flight from New Orleans to Orlando. After waiting at the gate for over five hours due to a delay, they were unaware that other passengers had been quietly moved to an earlier Orlando-bound flight departing from a nearby gate.
Tate and Brun, who are blind, say they were never verbally informed of the rebooking—relying on visual notices that were inaccessible to them. As a result, they remained at the original gate, unaware that the rest of the passengers had already left. When they finally boarded the aircraft, they discovered they were the only ones onboard. A gate agent reportedly told them, “You’re the only two people on this flight because they forgot about you,” according to WSVN.
Although Southwest did ultimately fly the women to Orlando, the airline offered only a $100 voucher to each as an apology, stating that the passengers had technically completed their journey.
Tate and Brun say the incident reflects a broader issue with how airlines accommodate travelers with disabilities. “The way they help their customers [who] require additional assistance needs to change,” Brun told WOFL. Tate emphasized the need for improved communication systems for disabled passengers.
Southwest has since issued a public apology and stated that it is working to enhance service for all customers, including by sharing best practices across the industry for assisting travelers with disabilities.
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