Disabled woman denied wheelchair: AI orders probe

The Air India (AI) has ordered an enquiry into an incident, where a differently-abled woman was allegedly made to crawl after deboarding a plane here in the absence of a wheelchair, even as the national carrier’s CMD expressed regret over the inconvenience caused in a letter to her.

The incident took place on January 29 when Anita Ghai, a differently-abled woman, landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) by an Alliance Air flight from Dehradun and requested for a wheelchair.

Ghai, who is a Delhi University associate professor, has alleged that she was made to “crawl” to the passenger coach as the airline failed to arrange a wheelchair due to “security” reasons.

In a letter to Ghai, Air India chairman and managing Director Ashwani Lohani has expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to her.

“We are also looking at the reasons behind the wheelchair request not having been indicated in the ticket/PNR that you booked for your journey through Balmer and Lawrie. Had the request been made, the timely availability of wheelchair at the ramp could have been ensured and the inconvenience caused to you could have been avoided,” Lohani has stated in the letter.

He also assured her that the carrier is fully sensitive to the needs of its passengers, especially the differently-abled.

Alliance Air, the regional arm of Air India, operated an ATR aircraft for the flight from Dehradun to Delhi.

Regarding the incident, Lohani said that there was lack of communication, adding that steps would be taken to ensure that such things do not happen again.

“It was unfortunate,” he said, adding that after getting the enquiry report, steps would be taken. 

Lohani also noted that the passenger was in an ATR aircraft where wheel-chairs can be taken only till the stairs of the plane.