CHICAGO — A viral TikTok video shows a grandmother getting a jolt in a self-driving wheelchair at Chicago O’Hare International Airport when the chair suddenly brakes. TikTok user Grace (@grace_mh525) posted the clip, which has more than 267,000 views. The chair stopped abruptly when another traveler walked in front of it, and her grandmother bounced in her seat. The video has started a debate over autonomous wheelchairs in airports.
Sudden Stop Inside O’Hare Airport Caught on Camera
Grace’s on-screen text says her grandmother was trying O’Hare’s new AI-controlled wheelchairs and almost ran someone over. At first the chair seems to move smoothly, though the grandmother looks surprised when it starts.
When a person crosses in front of the chair, it brakes hard and she bounces, then bursts out laughing. Grace then steps in to help, joking that she should stand near the sensors.
How the Self-Driving Wheelchairs Work
The chair appears to be made by WHILL, which says its autonomous wheelchairs run at O’Hare and airports worldwide. They rely on digital mapping, preprogrammed routes, automated navigation and onboard sensors, not just AI.
The company says its 360-degree sensors spot obstacles, including people crossing the chair’s path, and brake automatically. That feature is the likely cause of the sudden stop in Grace’s video.
Study Finds Mixed Rider Experiences
A 2026 peer-reviewed study found that automatic braking can frustrate riders, with some reporting abrupt stops and jerky movements that made them worry about falling. One user said humans are better at knowing when to slow down or stop.
Still, 86.3% of respondents said they would use the chair again, and 71.5% preferred it over a staff-operated wheelchair. Many riders also asked for faster speeds, saying the chairs move too slowly.
Rising Demand for Airport Wheelchair Help
Wheelchair users face frequent problems in air travel. Airlines mishandle wheelchairs at twice the rate of regular checked bags, and a 2022 survey found almost 70% of travelers with a wheelchair or scooter reported damage. Requests for help are also growing: the UK Civil Aviation Authority says assistance requests have more than doubled in 10 years, and IATA reports increases of around 30% a year at some airports.
Some commenters worried that sudden stops could cause spinal injuries in elderly riders, though WHILL reports zero injury claims as of September 2026. Another commenter said an empty chair nearly hit them at O’Hare. That is because the chairs can return to base on their own after dropping off a passenger.
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