Refer China: Foreign Woman Accused of Abusing Wheelchair Service & Skip Lines

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Foreign Woman Accused of Abusing Wheelchair Service to Skip Lines at Airport

A recent incident at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport has stirred public discussion on social media, after multiple travelers reported seeing a seemingly foreign woman without visible disability—reportedly of Indian nationality—using a wheelchair to navigate the airport. The situation raised concerns over alleged queue-jumping and misuse of limited accessibility resources.

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According to eyewitness accounts posted online, the woman appeared to have no visible disabilities and walked unaided after disembarking the plane, despite having used a wheelchair to board. This led some netizens to accuse her of exploiting airport wheelchair services to bypass security lines and enjoy priority boarding.

On November 25, a representative from the airport's customer service clarified that the wheelchair in question was not provided by the airport, but likely arranged by the airline.

The incident has since ignited divided opinions on Chinese social media. Critics argued the practice is unfair, especially during peak travel seasons when wheelchair services are in high demand. "She's wasting resources meant for people who really need them," one commenter wrote.

Others, however, urged caution before making assumptions. "Not all disabilities are visible," noted another user. "People may have conditions like chronic knee pain, recent surgery, or difficulty standing for long periods—none of which require crutches or casts to be valid."

Source: 华商报