Breaking: Air India to be fined Rs 30 Lakh for non-availability of wheelchair that caused death of elderly passenger
New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday imposed a financial penalty of Rs 30 lakhs on Air India following an incident where a wheelchair was not available for an 80-year-old passenger who collapsed and died after moving from the plane to the airport walked. the Mumbai airport terminal.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has imposed a financial penalty of Rs 30 lakhs on Air India following an incident where a wheelchair was not available for an 80-year-old passenger who collapsed and died after walking from the plane to the Mumbai airport terminal.
— ANI (@ANI) February 29, 2024
Earlier this month, DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to Air India following the death of an elderly passenger due to lack of a wheelchair. In particular, Air India came under scrutiny following the tragic death of an 80-year-old passenger, Babu Patel, who collapsed and died after walking from the plane to the terminal.
The incident was reported on February 12, 2024, upon the arrival of Air India flight AI-116 from New York. Patel, accompanied by his 76-year-old husband, Narmadaben Patel, had both booked wheelchairs for assistance. However, upon disembarking, only one wheelchair was available, forcing Patel to walk next to his wife, who was assisted by the only available wheelchair.
Tragically, Patel collapsed during the journey from the plane to the terminal near the APHO office. Medical staff at the airport performed CPR and rushed him to Nanavati Hospital in a MIAL ambulance. Despite efforts to save him, Chief Medical Officer Ronaldo confirmed Patel’s death.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has cited violations of the regulations set out in CAR SECTION 3, SERIES ‘M’, PART I, regarding the carriage of persons with disabilities or reduced mobility.
According to paragraph 4.1.7 of the CAR, airlines are obliged to provide seamless assistance to passengers with specific needs, to ensure their safe journey from the departure terminal to the aircraft and from the aircraft to the arrival terminal exit.
Consequently, Air India has been issued a Show Cause Notice by the DGCA for non-compliance with these regulations, with a mandatory response period of seven days. In addition, all airlines have been advised to ensure there are sufficient wheelchairs for passengers who require assistance during boarding and disembarking.
Babu Patel’s tragic demise underlines the critical importance of airlines’ compliance with disability assistance protocols and highlights the need for strict enforcement to prevent such incidents in the future.