UPDATE: A United Airline spokeswoman sought to clarify certain allegations in the story, saying, "While we offered our customer a hotel and to take her there, she declined our offer of assistance. We checked on her throughout the evening. We have since spoken with our customer's family to express our sincere apologies. We are working with our team at Newark to review what happened and to ensure we learn from this incident."

NEWARK -- A 77-year-old woman who uses a wheelchair was left alone and stranded at a gate at Newark airport for 12 hours after United Airlines bumped her from her London-bound flight, the woman's son alleges, according to a report.

The woman's son, Steven Williams, had left his mother in the care of United Airlines staff on Friday at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., where she then flew to Newark airport to catch a connecting flight to London, Williams told WUSA 9.

The United Airlines staff, Williams told WUSA 9, help customers in wheelchairs through the airport and to their flights.

At Newark airport, however, Williams told the station that United staff left his mother stranded and alone in her wheelchair for roughly 12 hours after she got bumped from her flight to London.

Williams told the station that he wants an apology from the airline, saying that he had entrusted his mother to the care of the staff members who are supposed to assist customers in wheelchairs get through airports and onto their flights.

Williams -- who does still not know why the airline bumped his mother from her flight -- said he only learned his mother never made it to London after receiving a text from the driver hired to pick her up.

United issued an apology to the family, adding that it was actively working to learn what occurred to ensure such an incident never happens again.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.