Wheelchair-bound man unleashes at Aussie airport after being told his ride home couldn't use disability parking

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 10:38, 26 April 2026 | Updated: 10:41, 26 April 2026 A wheelchair user was threatened with a $400 fine if his ride home from the airport parked in the disability pick-up zone. Disability advocate Shane Hryhorec shared a video on Sunday of his interaction with a worker at Adelaide Airport, where his mother attempted to pick him up on Saturday. The three-minute clip showed the worker explaining his mother couldn't park in the pick-up area as she did not have a disability permit, despite her son being confined to a wheelchair.  'It's really clearly signed, all motor users have to have their permit,' the worker said. Mr Hryhorec asked: 'So all these wheelchair icons here - you can't drop off and pick up people with disabilities unless they've got a permit, is that right? So my mum can't pick up me in my wheelchair?' The worker confirmed: 'That's correct.' Mr Hryhorec asked where he would have to wheel himself to in order to get his ride, considering the general pick-up area was too 'chaotic' and parts were inaccessible. The Adelaide Airport worker insisted he would either need to use the general pick-up area or his mother could pay $400 for using the disability area without a permit.  Discrimination at its best. A disability pickup zone… where I can’t get picked up. My mum was told she’d be fined. So where am I meant to go? SHARE this if you think Adelaide Airport needs to get their shit together. #disability #accessibletravel #australia #inclusion #wheelchairtravel Shane Hryhorec called on Adelaide Airport (above) to change its policy, adding it would be 'impossible' for everyone who picks him up to hold a permit Mr Hryhorec was shocked to be caught out by the odd rules as he frequently uses Adelaide Airport to get around for his travel blog.  'For many, many years, I've been using the disability pick-up and drop-off area at Adelaide Airport and all airports all around the world,' he said in the video. 'If you're in a wheelchair and have a service animal, you know firsthand how hard it is to use pick-up areas that are not designated accessible ones. 'It's hectic, it's chaotic and what airports have is designated disability areas to make it easier for people with disabilities, getting dropped off and picked up from the airport.' Mr Hryhorec called for Adelaide Airport to urgently change the rules, adding it's 'impossible' for users to organise for every ride they get to have a permit. 'Life with a disability is not easy, travelling with a disability is really, really hard,' he told ABC News. 'We have enough barriers as there is without having to deal with situations like this just by getting dropped off and picked up from the airport. 'I'm hoping the airport doesn't send us a $400 fine, but if they do I certainly will be appealing it.' Mr Hryhorec (above) was told his mother couldn't pick him up from Adelaide Airport's disbaility pick-up area as she didn't have a disabled permit Adelaide Airport told ABC it was investigating the incident and apologised for 'the frustration and distress' Mr Hryhorec and his mother endured. 'Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will review our policies and procedures and make any necessary changes,' it said. 'We are committed to ensuring a seamless and positive experience for all our customers.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.