An unfortunate incident occurred at the Delhi airport recently when an 82-year-old woman fell near a counter at the airline and injured herself when she was denied a wheelchair at the airport. According to reports, a wheelchair was pre-booked for her with Air India, but she did not receive one at the airport. The victim is the widow of a decorated Lieutenant General who waited for 1 hour for the wheelchair.
The old lady got seriously injured after the fall, and had to be admitted to the ICU
After the airport allegedly denied a wheelchair, the old lady had to walk a significant distance at the airport with the help of a family member. She ultimately fell near an airline counter when her legs gave way.
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The woman’s granddaughter alleged that her grandmother was not even provided first aid and apparently “not one person stepped in to help”. After a wheelchair finally arrived, she had to board the aircraft with a bleeding lip and injuries to her head and nose.
The granddaughter revealed that her grandmother has been in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) for two days and the left side of her body is losing strength. The old lady is said to be under observation for potential brain bleeds.
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The incident took place on March 4 and the granddaughter of the lady brought it to the forefront. In a post on X, last edited at 2 am on Friday, the granddaughter, Parul Kanwar, wrote that an Air India flight (AI2600) from Delhi to Bengaluru was booked by them for Tuesday.
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Her 82-year-old grandmother, whose name, according to a ticket shared by Ms. Kanwar, is Raj Pasricha, was among the travelers. The ticket also mentions a confirmed special request for a “wheelchair to aircraft door”.
Parul Kanwar wrote,
“I post this because I have no choice, and because it infuriates me that there is such little value for human life and wellbeing”
No one helped them from the airlines
Ms Kanwar recollected that when they reached Terminal 3 (T3) of the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Ms Pasricha was not allotted a wheelchair. The family allegedly tried for an hour to get one and requested Air India’s staff, the airport help desk, as well as staff members from another airline, but no wheelchair, could be arranged. She wrote,
“With no other option, this old lady slowly made her way across 3 parking lanes at T3 New Delhi, on foot with assistance from a family member. She managed to enter the airport on foot, still no wheelchair or assistance was provided. Ultimately, her legs gave way, and she fell – she fell in front of the Air India premium economy counter. Not one person stepped in to help. We requested someone to help get first aid – no help”
She added,
“Expectation from Air India staff was for the family member to go to the MI (medical inspection) room and get medical aid. Finally, the wheelchair arrived, and she was promptly boarded without a proper checkup with a bleeding lip and injury to her head and nose. On flight crew did help with ice packs and called ahead to Bangalore airport for medical aid, where she was seen by a doctor and given 2 stitches (sic)”
Ms Kanwar shared that she was typing the post from an ICU, where her grandmother has been under observation for two days for potential brain bleeds
She wrote,
“My mother and father watch as doctors pump her with medication, and her left side loses strength. From where we stand, it’s a long road ahead of pain and recovery which she did not deserve”
Ms Kanwar added that the family has lodged complaints with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Air India and is waiting for a response.
Air India responded to the incident
Air India responded to Ms Kanwar’s post and wrote,
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“Dear Ms. Kanwar, we are concerned to note this and wish Ms. Pasricha a speedy recovery. We’d like to connect with you over a call in this regard and request you share your contact number and a convenient time via DM (direct message)”.
When Ms. Kanwar said she did not want the airline to call her without “due diligence and investigation”, the airline wrote,
“Dear Ms. Kanwar, we sincerely wish your grandmother a speedy recovery. We are actively working on the concern and assure you that we will share the complete details at the earliest.”
Dear Ms. Kanwar, we are concerned to note this and wish Ms. Pasricha a speedy recovery. We’d like to connect with you over a call in this regard and request you share your contact number and a convenient time via DM.
— Air India (@airindia) March 6, 2025
This is indeed an unfortunate incident that shows the irresponsibility and negligence of the Airlines. What are your opinions on the same? Let us know in the comments.
