Blind Qantas passenger was eating lunch when a stranger's remark made her feel like 'an animal in a zoo'

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Emma Bennison, chief executive of Disability Advocacy Network Australia, said the encounter highlighted the everyday challenges people with disabilities face across the country.

Published: 03:11 GMT, 11 November 2026 | Updated: 03:11 GMT, 11 November 2026

A blind disability advocate has revealed how a stranger's humiliating behaviour left her too self-conscious to even get up to use the bathroom during an eight-hour flight.

Emma Bennison, chief executive of Disability Advocacy Network Australia, said the encounter highlighted the everyday challenges people with disabilities face across the country.

Ms Bennison was flying from Honolulu to Sydney on a Qantas flight last week when a fellow passenger began openly commenting on her behaviour, leaving her feeling as though her every move was being scrutinised, like 'an animal in a zoo'.

She told Daily Mail the incident began during lunch when she attempted to spread butter on her bread, only to find it was rock hard. She decided to break it into smaller pieces to help it melt.

'I was sort of breaking up the butter and trying to get it over the surface of the bread, I heard him say, 'Oh, my God, she's using her fingers.'

'And I just kind of froze because I was like, what on earth? I've never heard anyone comment like that in that way.'

The situation became even more uncomfortable when she overheard the man questioning a flight attendant about whether the crew had been briefed about her being on board.

'He said, "Did you know that she was going to be on this flight?"' she added.

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