Passenger Says Air Astana Damaged His Wheelchair, Then Humiliated Him

A man named Almaz is speaking out after what he describes as a nightmare experience with Air Astana, claiming the airline broke his wheelchair and subjected him to rude treatment. In a video posted to social media, he shows the damaged chair—its left side now sits noticeably lower than the right, making it unstable. The incident occurred on a flight from Astana to Almaty.

Almaz says check-in went smoothly, but everything changed at the boarding gate. Air Astana staff told him the electric attachment for his wheelchair wasn't allowed on the plane. He was then detained. Throughout the ordeal, he alleges employees addressed him using the informal "you," which he considers disrespectful and discriminatory against travelers with limited mobility. He has since filed a complaint with the Civil Aviation Committee.

The airline has promised to investigate the matter. This case echoes a recent incident involving a model in the inclusive fashion industry, who was denied a flight home after a U.S. show when British Airways crew refused to let her board due to her disability. For Almaz, the broken wheelchair isn't just an inconvenience—it's a symbol of a system that, he says, too often fails passengers who need extra care.