Family refused boarding on American Airlines flight after autistic son's 'meltdown'

A Texas family of seven says they were refused boarding on an American Airlines flight after their autistic son had a "meltdown" at the gate. Photo / 123RF

A Texas family of seven says they were refused boarding on an American Airlines flight after their autistic son had a "meltdown" at the gate.

Adam and Heather Halkuff had planned a trip from Dallas to Kansas City, Missouri with their five sons under the age of 16, two of whom have autism.

Prior to the trip, Adam Halkuff said he had reached out to American Airlines about travelling with autistic children.

"I first contacted American Airlines and I asked them if there were any programs or anything they can do for us because we'd be traveling with five boys, two that had autism," Halkuff told NBC.

More than a week before their flight, the Halkuffs went through a practice boarding at the airport with 5-year-old Milo and 2-year-old Ollie, in order to make the scenario more familiar on their travel date.

However, when the day came, Milo had a meltdown at the gate just before it was time to board.

"All the passengers are walking by. They're very kind, they're like, 'You got this mom. Do you need any help?'" Heather Halkuff told NBC.

However, she said the American Airlines ticket agent was not quite as understand and refused to let them board the flight, as it would "bother other passengers".

Despite the Halkuffs offering to split up, with Adam taking Milo home and the rest of the family flying to Kansas, the offer was rejected and the entire family was brought back into the terminal.

In a statement, an American Airlines spokesperson wrote that they were concerned to hear about the situation.

"Our team has reached out to the Halkuff family to gather more information about what transpired at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). The American Airlines team is committed to providing a safe and pleasant travel experience for all of our customers.

"When it comes to autism, American is a strong advocate for children. Our team members work closely with various nonprofit groups to alleviate the stress these children and their families may experience while flying, including offering families the opportunity to take a test fight on the ground. This process — which includes role playing and realistic airport interactions — helps children grow accustomed to the experience of flight."

Previously, American Airlines had received a top score on their disability inclusion programs from the American Association of People with Disabilities.