S. African Paralympian accepts apology after 'disrespect' from national airline

South African Paralympian Tyrone Pillay has accepted an apology from the national carrier South African Airways after he expressed displeasure with the treatment he received from the airline’s staff on his return from Brazil on Tuesday.

The shot put bronze medallist said a staff of the airline stopped him from boarding a flight with his prosthetic leg from Johannesburg to Durban despite flying with it aboard the same airline from Sao Paolo.

“Worst airline to fly with. Terrible treatment of a Paralympic athlete as the staff refuse to allow my prosthetic leg on board,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

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,” he added.

Can't believe I get treated like this after winning a medal for our country. Totally disrespectful flysaa

— Tyrone Pillay (pillaytyrone) September 20, 2016

The airline replied his tweet by asking him to send a Direct Message to sort the issue out.

Hi pillaytyrone may we request that you please DM us and let us know what happened.

— SAA - South Africa (flysaa) September 20, 2016

Spokesperson for the airline, Tlali Tlali, expressed regret for the incident adding that an apology had already been issued to Pillay.

He added that the prosthesis should have been treated as carry-on luggage or an assistive device and the airline is investigating the incident.

Thanks for the apology flysaa

— Tyrone Pillay (pillaytyrone) September 20, 2016