‘Inadequate, subhuman and not worthy’: Paraplegic man’s Darwin Airport ordeal

A paraplegic Cairns man’s 50th birthday trip to the Territory has turned to anger after his ‘demoralising’ treatment by Darwin International Airport and Jetstar.

A paraplegic Queenslander travelled to the Northern Territory for his 50th birthday but the celebrating turned to anger on the back of disability access issues involving Jetstar and Darwin International Airport.

Brad Wszola lost the ability to walk in 2016 after a steroid injection for pain relief left him paralysed from the chest down.

The Cairns man said he felt “inadequate, subhuman and not worthy” after he had to be carried by three men into Jetstar’s planes as they did not have wheelchair ramps.

He said he and his wife Jenny had to collect his wheelchair from the baggage collection section as the airline and airport did not offer to bring it to the plane.

“Three people had to lift me (into the planes),” he said.

Cairns man Brad Wszola says Darwin International Airport and Jetstar did not provide adequate support. Picture: Brendan Radke

He has struggled to adjust to life with a disability and said incidents like these took him back to square one.

“It feels like those with a disability … should just be pushed into a corner,” Mr Wszola said. “It’s really sad.”

Jenny Wszola says the ordeal has her worried about her husband’s emotional state. Picture: Supplied

“The pilots were standing there watching this happen. That’s just not cool.

“It’s really demoralising.

“It takes the wind out of you. It was just awful.”

Mrs Wszola said she was concerned about the impact on her husband.

Brad and Jenny Wszola say budget airline Jetstar is not supporting people with disabilities properly. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Nicholas Eagar

“I just feel really sorry for him,” she said.

“I worry about how he feels. I really worry about his emotional state.

“It makes him think about all the things he can’t do.

“This productive vital man is being treated like a second-class citizen.

“It just sets him back a peg.”

The couple asked for an explanation from Darwin International Airport and Jetstar but had not received one, although both businesses say they have reached out.

Brad Wszola said he feels like people with disabilities are “pushed into a corner” after his ordeal at Darwin International Airport. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Jetstar spokeswoman said the airline’s priority was providing a “safe, comfortable and affordable travel experience to all our customers”.

“We sincerely apologise to Mr and Mrs Wszola for their recent disappointing experience while travelling through Darwin Airport,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the company had reached out to the Wszolas and spoken to Darwin International Airport.

A Darwin International Airport spokeswoman said the airport had been in touch with Ms Wszola and recommended she lodge a formal complaint against Jetstar.

The spokeswoman said the airport “sympathises” with Mr Wszola’s experience and has “repeatedly escalated” the incident to Jetstar.