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Cape Town - South African Airways (SAA) has apologised to South African Paralympian Tyrone Pillay after he was refused permission to board his flight with his prosthetic leg on Tuesday.
After the SA Paralympic team arrived back in South Africa, Pillay tweeted that the airline's staff didn't allow the bronze medallist to board with his mechanical leg.
"Worst airline to fly with @flysaa. Terrible treatment of a Paralympic athlete as the staff refuse to allow my prosthetic leg on board."
"Can't believe I get treated like this after winning a medal for our country. Totally disrespectful @flysaa"
The 36-year-old Pillay was born with an abnormality in his left foot and is a single above knee amputee athlete.
Soon after Pillay's comments, the airline tweeted the shot putter and asked him to send them a direct message detailing what had occurred.
The Durbanite then thanked SAA for their apology.
According to Times Live, Pillay did not respond to any questions on why the airline didn't allow the prosthetic leg on board.
SAA's spokesperson Tlali Tlali told BBC Sport that they usually make provisions for passengers with assistive devices and Pillay's leg should've been allowed.
"Our policy makes provision for passenger assistive devices to be carried into the cabin," said Tlali.
"Mr Pillay's prosthetic legs fall under this classification and should have been allowed."
Pillay threw a personal best of 13.91m to claim bronze in the men's F42 shot put in Rio.
Worst airline to fly with @flysaa. Terrible treatment of a Paralympic athlete as the staff refuse to allow my prosthetic leg on board.
— Tyrone Pillay (@pillaytyrone) September 20, 2016
Can't believe I get treated like this after winning a medal for our country. Totally disrespectful @flysaa
— Tyrone Pillay (@pillaytyrone) September 20, 2016
Hi @pillaytyrone may we request that you please DM us and let us know what happened.
— SAA - South Africa (@flysaa) September 20, 2016
Thanks for the apology @flysaa
— Tyrone Pillay (@pillaytyrone) September 20, 2016
