St. Croix Airport Lift Malfunction Strands Disabled Passengers

Spirit Airlines passenger misses wedding and medical appointment due to faulty lift; VIPA apologized and moved quickly to repair the system.

A malfunctioning lift system at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport left a disabled passenger unable to board his Spirit Airlines flight on Saturday, while another disabled passenger aboard the same flight could not deboard due to the same issue. The V.I. Port Authority later identified the problem as a damaged hydraulic hose.

The lift, which costs upwards of $100,000, has since been repaired, according to VIPA. Delmo Francis, a 47-year-old disabled man, shared his ordeal with The Consortium, expressing frustration and disappointment over the situation. Mr. Francis had planned to attend a wedding on Sunday and a medical appointment on Monday in the mainland U.S. but said he was unaware of the lift malfunction until it was time to board.