Paralympian Hannah Babalola says KLM staff told her she could not use an onboard aisle wheelchair on an almost 11-hour flight from Cape Town to Amsterdam, leaving her to choose between disembarking or not using the toilet. She ultimately stayed on board after police and security found no wrongdoing, but described the experience as dehumanising; the article presents it as part of wider, recurring barriers and mistreatment faced by wheelchair users when flying.

Babalola had booked special assistance and had received it without difficulty on her outward journey, but crew members cited turbulence concerns and incorrectly said she had not registered as disabled. The World Health Organization estimates that about 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, have significant disabilities, while UK aviation accessibility rights apply only on certain routes and airlines, limiting their reach.