The aviation regulator DGCA fined Air India Rs 30 lakh on Thursday for failing to provide a wheelchair to an 80-year-old customer who slumped and died in Mumbai's arrival area. The event occurred on February 12, when a passenger requested a wheelchair upon arriving in Mumbai.
While his wife was already in a wheelchair, Air India allegedly requested that the elderly passenger wait owing to "heavy demand" for wheelchairs. The passenger apparently chose to walk instead, eventually falling and dying during the immigration process.
The complaint was investigated, and Air India was served with a show cause notice. On February 20, the Tata-owned airline delivered their response. The airline told that the elderly passenger preferred to walk beside his wife, who was also in a wheelchair, rather than waiting for another wheelchair.
"However, the airline failed to show compliance of the CAR as the airline did not provide any wheelchair to the elderly passenger. 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,” said Federal Aviation Administration.
"Accordingly, a financial penalty of Rs. 30 lakh has been imposed on Air India as per Aircraft Rules, 1937 for violating the provisions of the aforementioned CAR," the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated.
The regulator also stated that an advice had been sent to all airlines to ensure that an adequate number of wheelchairs are available for passengers who require assistance while boarding or disembarking from the aircraft during their flight.
