BBC journalist Frank Gardner, who has used a wheelchair since being paralyzed in a 2004 shooting in Saudi Arabia, faced a distressing situation on a recent LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw to London.

During the flight, Gardner was forced to crawl on the floor to reach the bathroom after being informed by the cabin crew that there were no wheelchairs available onboard.

He described the experience as 'humiliating' and 'degrading,' emphasizing the physical discomfort of having to shuffle along the unclean aircraft floor.

Gardner criticized LOT Polish Airlines for its lack of accessibility, labeling the situation as discriminatory towards disabled passengers who cannot walk.

He stated, 'If you’re disabled and you can’t walk this is just discriminatory,' highlighting the urgent need for better accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

Expressing his frustration on social media, Gardner shared a photo of the incident, which garnered significant public outrage, being viewed over 253,000 times.

Many users on social media echoed Gardner's sentiments, describing the airline's treatment of him as horrendous and disgraceful.

Following this incident, Gardner indicated he would avoid flying with LOT Polish Airlines until they improve their accessibility options.

In response, LOT Polish Airlines acknowledged the lack of onboard wheelchairs on their short-haul flights and expressed deep regret for Gardner's experience.

The airline emphasized its commitment to enhancing services for disabled passengers, stating they provide assistance from check-in to baggage claim.

Gardner pointed out that compact onboard aisle chairs should be standard for airlines to better assist disabled passengers.

LOT Polish Airlines assured that they are working on solutions to equip their short-haul aircraft with onboard wheelchairs in the future.