Air India Fined Rs 30 Lakh Over Man's Death, In A Wheelchair Incident

The 80-year-old customer who later slumped and died at the Mumbai airport was not given a wheelchair by Air India, and as a result, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) fined the airline Rs 30 lakh on Thursday.

The event happened on February 12 and concerned a traveller who had arrived in Mumbai and requested a wheelchair. Air India allegedly requested the elderly passenger to wait because of "heavy demand" for wheelchairs, even though his wife was already using one. According to reports, the traveller chose to walk instead, eventually falling and dying while undergoing immigration procedures.

The "Carriage by Air: Persons with Disability (Divyangjan) and/or Persons with Reduced Mobility" laws demand that wheelchair assistance be provided to those who require it. The DGCA ruled that Air India had violated these standards after conducting an investigation.

In response, Air India stated that the passenger did not wait for another wheelchair; instead, he decided to walk with his wife. Regardless of the passenger's initial choice, the airline was found to have violated the Disability and Passenger Care Act (DGCA).

"Further, Air India did not inform about any action taken by the airline against the erring employee(s), and the airline also failed to submit any corrective actions taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future," a statement from the DGCA stated.

As a result, the DGCA fined Rs 30 lakh and sent a warning to all airlines, stressing the importance of keeping enough wheelchairs available for travellers who require help.

"An advisory has also been issued to all airlines to ensure that an adequate number of wheelchairs are available for passengers who require assistance while embarking or disembarking from the aircraft during their journey," the official said in a statement.