BIRMINGHAM, Ala (WIAT) -- Miranda Hart was born with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, which affects a person's nervous system. Because of this, Hart has depended on her wheelchair for much of her life.
Hart says while traveling last year in December, her wheelchair was damaged on a Delta Flight from North Carolina to Georgia as she made her way back home to Birmingham, AL.
"They got my chair from in cargo and my brake was broken on the chair," said Hart. "and the back we found out was later broke as well."
Hart says in addition, her service dog, Eli, was injured just moments after as she tried catching her connecting flight.
"We got on the Atlanta train, and with the brake broke my chair could not stay in position and, so, when the train took off it hit him and sent him sliding, which injured the muscles in his back," said Hart.
Due to Eli's injuries, Hart says she spent nearly 2 months without Eli as he recovered.
Fast forward months later to November, Hart said her wheelchair was damaged once again while in cargo on another Delta flight.
"They promised me that my chair would be wrapped, and it would be made secure. It was not," said Hart.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, new aircraft with 100 or more seats must have priority space for storing a passenger’s folding wheelchair in the cabin.
Aircraft with more than 60 seats and an accessible lavatory must have an on-board wheelchair, regardless of when the aircraft was ordered or delivered.
In a statement from Delta Airlines: “Delta considers a wheelchair as an extension of a person and understands that any mishandling of a mobility device directly impacts their daily living. Our customer care team is partnering with our operational teams to investigate this customer's complaint and make things right as appropriate."
While that investigation is being done, Hart said she wants to use her experience to speak out in hopes of bringing awareness.
"Our chairs, they're not pieces of luggage; they are our legs. They're how we get around," said Hart.
For both incidents, Hart filed complaints with Delta Airlines. Hart said she was given a loaner after the first incident.
Hart said she is now waiting on her wheelchair to be repaired for the second time.