Virgin Australia contacted disability advocate Shane Hryhorec on Wednesday to apologize after he was removed from a flight earlier this week. Hryhorec, who lives with C5 incomplete quadriplegia, was traveling from Sydney to Adelaide when airline staff raised concerns regarding his wheelchair’s power assist device, known as a SmartDrive.

Hryhorec documented the encounter in a video that subsequently went viral across social media platforms, garnering millions of views. In the footage, Hryhorec is seen attempting to explain the nature of his equipment to flight staff before being asked to leave the aircraft. The airline’s decision to apologize follows the widespread public reaction to the video, which highlighted the difficulties faced by passengers with disabilities when navigating air travel with specialized mobility equipment. While the airline has acknowledged the situation and reached out to the passenger, specific details regarding the airline's internal policy review or potential changes to how they handle mobility devices remain limited.