Indian Airline Faces Backlash for Denying Wheelchair to 83-Year-Old Passenger

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

An Indian airline has come under criticism after allegedly failing to provide a pre-booked wheelchair for 83-year-old Susama Rath upon her arrival at Delhi Airport. The incident occurred on March 5 when Rath traveled from Bhubaneswar to Delhi on flight 6E 5061.

Dr. Bishnu Prasad Panigrahi, Rath’s son-in-law, took to social media to express his frustration, accusing the airline of neglecting elderly passengers. He claimed that despite requesting a wheelchair at the time of booking, no assistance was provided upon landing, forcing Rath to walk to their vehicle outside the airport.

Panigrahi criticized the airline’s service, stating, “Air India and this airline now have a monopoly; they are no longer customer-friendly. At least for senior citizens, some empathy should be visible. Shameful attitude.”

In response, the airline clarified that a wheelchair must be pre-booked at least 48 hours before departure, and they found no record of such a request in Rath’s booking. The airline apologized for the inconvenience and assured that a wheelchair had been arranged for her future travel to ensure a smoother experience in both Delhi and Bhubaneswar.

The incident follows a similar case involving Air India, where an 82-year-old woman allegedly collapsed at Delhi Airport after being denied a pre-booked wheelchair. Her granddaughter, Parul Kanwar, criticized the airline for negligence, stating that her grandmother had to walk across multiple parking lanes before entering the terminal without assistance.

These incidents have sparked concerns over the treatment of elderly passengers by Indian airlines, prompting calls for improved accessibility and better adherence to service commitments.