Virgin Australia staff tip disabled doctor out of wheelchair, triggering investigation

Virgin Australia has launched an investigation after a prominent disabled doctor and former Queensland Australian of the Year was tipped out of his wheelchair by ground staff at Brisbane Airport.

Dr Dinesh Palipana is a former Queensland Australian of the Year. Picture Glenn Hampson

Virgin Australia has launched an investigation after prominent disabled doctor Dinesh Palipana was tipped out of his wheelchair by ground staff at Brisbane Airport on Wednesday.

Dr Palipana, a senior resident doctor at Gold Coast University Hospital and former Queensland Australian of the Year, was boarding a flight to Melbourne with his mother Chithrani and two carers to give a disability talk when the “very distressing” incident happened on an aerobridge.

“We travel in numbers and (with) experienced staff for safety,” an angry Mrs Palipana posted on social media.

“The (Virgin) wheelchair assistance staff member today disregarded all of us, asked us not to interfere (and) even for the three of us to board the plane first (before Dr Palipana) which we didn’t do luckily.

“What did she do then, she dropped my son from the chair taking a sharp corner. Who gave her the right to know how to assist someone with a spinal cord injury?

Virgin Australia is investigating the incident. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We travel so often and this is the first time ever we came across such a Virgin Australia staff member who didn’t want to listen to the care team.

“Please LISTEN and follow the lead of the care team as we are the experts in that area for that person. Do not cause bodily harm to someone in a wheelchair because you think you know it all.”

Dr Palipana told The Courier-Mail he was awaiting scans to see if he had suffered any damage in the incident.

He said flew as often as several times a week and “nothing like this has ever happened before”.

“It was very distressing for my family and the people around me, and the outcome could have been dire if there was a fracture or head injury” he said.

“However, I do think it was an isolated incident where the ground staff member kind of took things into their own hands.

“Virgin historically has been excellent, and a lot of people with disabilities prefer to fly with them. They proactively called me to apologise and said they were investigating the matter.”

Disability Royal Commission chair Ronald Sackville KC wrote to Australian airline and airport CEOs earlier this year outlining concerns people with disabilities had reported while travelling.

They included being dropped on the floor, damaged wheelchairs not being repaired by airlines and limited access to safe ramps.

“I’ve had a number of conversations with Virgin, including times where they’ve had me speak to their teams and leadership team,” Dr Palipana said.

“They have been receptive and made changes.”