A double amputee Marine veteran claimed that he was kicked off a ride at a Six Flags amusement park because he doesn’t have two “real” legs.
Veteran Johnny “Joey” Jones, who lost both his legs in an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2010, was kicked off a ride at Six Flags in Georgia after one of the employees noticed that he doesn’t have two legs, and that the particular ride required “at least one functioning arm and one functioning leg absent of prosthetic devices.”
Jones said he has gone on similar rides at Universal Studios and had no issues with them.
Six Flags has since apologized to Jones, Fox News reported.
“We apologize to Mr. Jones for any inconvenience; however, to ensure safety, guests with certain disabilities are restricted from riding certain rides and attractions. Our accessibility policy includes ride safety guidelines and the requirements of the federal American Disabilities Act,” Six Flags said in a statement. “Our policies are customized by ride and developed for the safety of all our guests. Our policies and procedures are reviewed and adjusted on a regular basis to ensure we continue to accommodate the needs of our guests while simultaneously maintaining a safe environment for everyone.
“Just got kicked off a fully enclosed ride [at Six Flags] … for not having ‘real legs,'” Jones tweeted on Sunday.
Just got kicked off a fully enclosed ride @SixFlags (jut like one I’ve ridden @UniStudios for not having “real legs”
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 20, 2018
Jones acknowledged that while there is a posted policy for the ride, he thinks that Universal Studios probably has better equipment for people to ride the rides, he tweeted.
“It’s posted policy, I guess [Universal Studios just has better equipment,” he tweeted.
It’s posted policy, I guess @UniStudios just has better equipment. 🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/1v48xXjTQP
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 20, 2018
Jones also claimed that the employee let him stand in line and unlock the bar to help him get his legs inside before telling him that he is not allowed to sit on the ride.
“Safety I’m sure,” he said. “They post physical requirements at each ride, I didn’t see it, teenager let me stand in line, get in the car and even unlocked the bar to maneuver my legs before he said something, lol.”
Safety I’m sure. They post physical requirements at each ride, I didn’t see it, teenager let me stand in line, get in the car and even unlocked the bar to maneuver my legs before he said something lol. https://t.co/L7NupbzE9L
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 20, 2018
According to the ride, which was the Harley Quinn Spinsanity, riders “must have one (1) functioning arm and one (1) functioning leg absent of prosthetic devices.”
“Hey [Six Flags], you really think I’m so physically useless I can’t ride a Tilt-a-Whirl? Seriously?! Did you see the enormous hill I walked up and down to get here,” Jones later tweeted.
Hey @SixFlags you really think I’m so physically useless I can’t ride a tilt-a-whirl? Seriously?! Did you see the enormous hill I walked up and down to get here? pic.twitter.com/CDUCMfpGDd
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 20, 2018
Jones took aim at Six Flags for not being accommodating compared to other large theme parks such as Disney parks, Universal and Sea World.
“A message to all those veterans out there unlucky in their service who now use prosthetics, [Sea World, Universal Studios and Disney Parks] will literally move (magic) mountains for you,” he tweeted. “[Six Flags] will tell you ‘nah bro, you gotta have two real legs.'”
A message to all those veterans out there unlucky in their service who now use prosthetics, @SeaWorld @UniStudios and @DisneyParks will literally move (magic) mountains for you. @SixFlags will tell you “nah bro, you gotta have two real legs”
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 20, 2018
