Virgin Australia apologises after disabled passenger off‑loaded and launches accessibility

Virgin Australia apologized after a disabled passenger, Shane Hryhorec, was off‑loaded from a flight in August when cabin crew mistook his wheelchair’s SmartDrive power assist for a battery.

The airline has hired an external disability‑training organisation to review all passenger‑journey touchpoints, policies, procedures and staff interactions, and has created an accessibility advisory panel that includes people with disabilities; Hryhorec has asked for his Human Rights Commission complaint to be put on hold for six months while he works directly with Virgin Australia, and the federal government has released a consultation paper on draft aviation disability standards with feedback closing on 2 October.