Virgin Australia has apologised to disability advocate Shane Hryhorec after he was removed from a flight over the storage of his wheelchair’s SmartDrive motor.
Hryhorec, who lives with C5 incomplete quadriplegia, uses a wheelchair with a power-assist device. He said he had flown three times with Virgin Australia the previous week, with the motor stored in an overhead locker without issue.
However, during the final leg, staff told him the motor had to be stored under the seat because of a new rule. Hryhorec said there was no suitable space because the business-class armrest in front prevented him from safely securing it by his feet.
A video he posted showing the interaction with cabin staff has since gone viral, reportedly receiving around 16 million views across TikTok and Instagram.
In the footage, staff can be heard telling Hryhorec that crews on his earlier flights had “done the wrong thing” by accommodating him. He was eventually removed from the aircraft.
“I was upset, I was angry, I was humiliated,” Hryhorec said.
Virgin Australia later contacted him and issued an apology, acknowledging that his experience “did not meet our own standards” and saying it would learn from the incident.
But Hryhorec said an apology alone is not enough. He has complained to the Australian Human Rights Commission and says he will not withdraw the complaint until he is convinced meaningful changes will be made.
His message is simple: people with disabilities should be able to travel by air without unnecessary stress, anxiety or uncertainty.
The incident has also renewed attention on accessibility across Australian aviation, where disability advocates have long raised concerns about wheelchair handling, airport accessibility and inconsistent airline procedures.
Hryhorec says people with disabilities should not have to worry that every flight could become a “lucky dip” where the wrong decision results in being denied boarding or having mobility equipment damaged.
What do you think airlines should do to ensure passengers with disabilities receive consistent and respectful treatment?
