Wheelchair of Pageant Queen Damaged During Flight Repaired with Help from News Station

Latavia Sturdivant, the first woman from New York to win Ms. Wheelchair America for two consecutive years, recently faced a major setback when her motorized wheelchair was severely damaged during a flight. Sturdivant, who was travelling to attend an adaptive ski event in South Dakota, returned home to Yonkers to discover that her wheelchair was in a state of disrepair. The joystick was completely off, the back of the chair was open, the foot plates were bent, and a lateral was cracked in half. This left Sturdivant unable to move and essentially homebound until her wheelchair was repaired.

Sturdivant filed a claim with Delta Airlines, the airline responsible for transporting her wheelchair, to get it fixed. However, she was met with a disappointing response from a Delta employee who suggested that someone could simply push the heavy motorized chair until it was repaired. Sturdivant’s mother, who was helping her at the time, expressed her inability to push the chair due to its weight. After much struggle, the chair was finally able to be driven, but the damage was done.

Sturdivant reached out to National Seating and Mobility, a company in the Bronx that specializes in repairing medical equipment, to get her wheelchair fixed. However, she was initially told that they did not accept Delta’s insurance. This left Sturdivant in a difficult position, unable to afford the expensive repairs herself. But with the help of News 12, things took a positive turn. After being contacted by the news station, National Seating and Mobility agreed to take on the repairs and get Sturdivant’s wheelchair back in working condition.

Sturdivant, who relies on her wheelchair for mobility, expressed her frustration with the lack of care given to medical equipment by airlines. She emphasized the impact of such incidents, as it essentially alters her entire life until her wheelchair is fixed. She also shared her disappointment in having to put her royal duties on hold due to the long wait for repairs.

Delta Airlines has since apologized for the incident and acknowledged the impact it had on Sturdivant’s life. However, Sturdivant’s ordeal sheds light on the importance of airlines treating medical equipment with care and ensuring that it is transported safely. Thanks to the help of News 12 and National Seating and Mobility, Sturdivant’s wheelchair has been repaired and she can once again resume her daily activities and royal duties.