Ethiopian Airlines under fire after preventing wheelchair-user Ethel Kachala from travelling to Benin
By Burnett Munthali
Ethel Kachala, a wheelchair-user and Programmes Manager at the Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (FEDOMA), was on Thursday blocked from boarding an Ethiopian Airlines flight at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe after airline officials said she could not travel without an assistant.
Kachala was scheduled to attend an international conference on children with disabilities in Benin. She had already completed the first leg of her journey without incident, having flown earlier that morning on Malawi Airlines from Chileka Airport to Lilongwe.
However, when boarding procedures began for the afternoon Ethiopian Airlines flight, airline officials stopped her, citing company guidelines that prohibit passengers who cannot enter the aircraft cabin or move independently in a wheelchair from travelling without a personal assistant.
Speaking to MBC, Kachala described the incident as both unexpected and discriminatory. She said this was the first time she had ever been denied boarding, despite having flown with Ethiopian Airlines and several other carriers multiple times in the past without an assistant.
Kachala further explained that ahead of her trip, she informed Ethiopian Airlines that she would be travelling alone and clearly indicated the type of assistance she would require during the journey. She said she had expected the airline to accommodate her needs as usual.
Ethiopian Airlines Station Manager at KIA, Busa Kenea, confirmed the incident and defended the airline’s position. He stated that the airline’s policy requires any passenger who is unable to move inside the cabin to be accompanied by an assistant.
“On her booking it was indicated that the passenger can walk, which totally is not correct with the actual ability of the passenger,” Kenea said. “She cannot walk. She needs assistance to push her all the way in the cabin, from the airport to the hotel.”
Kenea added that the airline typically assists immobile passengers by carrying them during boarding, but insisted that travelling without a companion is not permitted under their rules.
The incident has sparked early debate around accessibility and airline treatment of persons with disabilities, with disability rights advocates already calling for clarity, accountability, and better enforcement of inclusive travel standards.
