Man battles airline via Facebook

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REDMOND, Ore., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- An Oregon man's Facebook post about the alleged treatment of a disabled man by Alaska Airlines employees went viral, prompting a response from the airline.

Passenger Cameron Clark, a concert promoter from Bend, was so angered by what he called "the worst of humanity," detailed what he witnessed at the Redmond Airport Friday on Facebook, KTVZ-TV reported.

Clark wrote: "standing in line at an @alaska airlines ticket check in, in redmond oregon, i watched as a disabled/mentally and physically challenged couple were left standing in the front of a line by the ticket attendant ... who didn't say a word- no "final call, redmond to seattle"-- no "if you are flying to seattle, it's too late to make this flight," etc-- nothing."

In his post, Clark said multiple Alaska Airlines employees failed to give the man, who told Clark he had Parkinson's disease, any extra assistance, causing him to miss a flight to see his daughter in Bellingham.

The post went viral and public outcry prompted the airline to quickly rectify the situation.

Alaska Airlines wrote on its Facebook page Saturday that it refunded the disabled man's ticket and was able to get him on a flight to a different location for him to meet up with his daughter.

Clark praised the airline for "doing the right thing" and said in his experience, the airline "has an outstanding track record."

However, later Saturday, the airline posted another update, saying the customer "arrived late and didn't request or assistance or let us know of any disabilities," and that at the time of the incident he was "exhibiting signs of inebriation and smelled of alcohol."

Clark disputed the turn of events, saying, "I stood right next to him for 15 minutes, and we spoke to each other within inches of each other. I smelled absolutely nothing."

"It's unreal what they are doing now," Clark said.