I've often wondered about this subject with American airports, rail stations and other forms of transportation. When I lived in Maryland they had "kneeling" buses for the handicapped as well as these buses being equipped with locking devices for wheel chairs, but there also are buses with two levels and a very narrow pathway. If the bus does not "kneel" or have empty seats near the driver for handicapped people I would be forced to wait for the next bus and hope it was the correct type!
If handicapped people get this kind of treatment at airports, I dread having to fly anywhere as I only sometimes have to wear steel reinforced knee braces. I don't carry a card detailing my handicap because it isn't constant. When I need to wear the braces I really need to wear them. If what happened to this man were to happen to me I would be completely incapable of walking through the security arch without crutches or my braces! What would they do then? Make me crawl?
I understand the need for more security at places of mass transportation but this is getting ridiculous. I've been told I'd have to take the original prescription bottles of my medications with me instead of my weekly supply because they want to register what every pill is. I take 9 prescriptions! My overnight bag would have nothing but huge bottles of medicine in it. I pray nightly that some rationality returns to the world before we all get so paranoid that no one will walk out their own front door.
I know in my city the have special busses that will come to your door to pick you up and take you where you want to go if you have a disability. They have wide aisles and suck and the bus will lower its boarding side to assist people getting in. I think this is a great program.
In Australia, the public transport are quite equipped for disabilities. Our buses were lowered for wheel-chair access. The trains have ramps. We do have trams that are lowered too. There are ramps and toilets in Government buildings. Its horrible to think what this man went through, I know that it is hard for some people to go through the metal detectors if they have artificial limbs or metal in their craniums. I remember Adam Hills, an Australian comedian, talking about being stuck at the metal detector for ages because his artificial leg set it off. He made it into a joke, but I wonder how many more non-joking matters happen ever years and at every air-port.