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Man 'too disabled' to fly

Grand Rapids - A motivational speaker with cerebral palsy says he was kicked off a US Airways flight after being told he was too disabled to fly alone.

Forty-seven-year-old Johnnie Tuitel of Grand Rapids Township, Michigan, told The Grand Rapids Press that he has flown over 800 000km to give motivational speeches. But Tuitel said he missed a speech because of the incident at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida on September 23.

US Airways' website says people can't fly alone if they wouldn't be able to help themselves or others in an emergency. A company spokesperson said the crew was following company policy.

Tuitel said he will meet with US Airways employees in coming weeks to discuss his concerns with the policy, which he hopes will be changed.

Tuitel said he was raised to believe he shouldn't require special treatment.

http://www.news24.com/World/News/Man-too-disabled-to-fly-20101016