St. Croix Airport Lift Malfunction Strands Disabled Passengers

A malfunctioning lift system at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport left a disabled passenger unable to board his Spirit Airlines flight on Saturday, while another disabled passenger aboard the same flight could not deboard due to the same issue. The V.I. Port Authority later identified the problem as a damaged hydraulic hose. The lift, which costs upwards of $100,000, has since been repaired, according to VIPA. Delmo Francis, a 47-year-old disabled man, shared his ordeal with The Consortium, expressing frustration and disappointment over the situation. Mr. Francis had planned to attend a wedding on Sunday and a medical appointment on Monday in the mainland U.S. but said he was unaware of the lift malfunction until it was time to board. “They told me the ramp wasn’t working when it was time to board, not when I checked in,” Mr. Francis explained. Spirit Airlines staff informed him that assisting him onto the plane manually would violate their policies, and his nephews, who were present to...