Airport apologises after wheelchair user barred from disability pick-up spot

Monday, 27 April 2026 11:01

See the viral clip the airport has asked him to delete from social media.

Adelaide Airport has apologised and is reviewing its procedures after footage emerged of a staff member blocking a wheelchair user from being picked up in a disability permit parking bay.

Shane Hryhorec, who uses a wheelchair, filmed the encounter while waiting to be collected by his mother over the weekend.

In the clip, the airport worker refuses his collection from the space because his mother did not have a disability parking permit on her car. The worker explains that only vehicles displaying the permit can enter the space.

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Speaking on Today, Hryhorec said he was in absolute shock.

"The gentleman working there said, 'Your mum's not allowed to pick you up here because she doesn't have a permit on her windscreen.'"

"My mum was trying to pull in, and he was yelling at her, saying, look, if you pull in here, you're going to get a fine, and the fine's $400."

Hryhorec said the employee directed him to what was called the "normal" pick-up area, which he described as difficult to navigate in a wheelchair and not set up for safe transfers in and out of a car.

After posting the video, Hryhorec said the airport contacted him to apologise and asked him to take the footage down.

Shane Hryhorec posted the interaction on his Instagram page.

He declined, saying it was important the incident remained public.

In a statement to nine.com.au, Adelaide Airport said it is investigating the incident and acknowledged the situation should have been handled differently.

"We apologise to Mr Hyrhorec and his mother for the frustration and distress caused," a spokesperson said.

"The permit system is in place to ensure that the area is only used for its intended purpose.

"While neither Mr Hryhorec nor his mother had a disability parking permit yesterday, we acknowledge that we should have used our discretion to allow him to be picked up from the disability passenger pick-up area."

The airport said it aims to provide an inclusive environment for all travellers, with a review of its procedures now underway.

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