An 82-year-old woman landed in an Itensive Care Unit after she fell down at the Delhi Airport after allegedly being denied a pre-booked wheelchair by Air India. The woman, who is said to be under observation for potential brain bleeds, was forced to walk a considerable distance at the airport despite her inability to do so. She fell in front of a counter of the airline after her legs gave way, but “not one person stepped in to help”.
The senior citizen is the widow of a decorated Lieutenant General. The incident took place on March 4 and was brought to the fore by her granddaughter, who claimed that the airline did not bother helping the 82-year-old even after she fell and got injured.
What Happened At The Airport
In a post on X, the woman’s graddaughter, Parul Kanwar, stated that the airline had confirmed the availability of a wheelchair when they booked flight tickets. However, the woman was not allocated one even after repeated requests and an hour-long wait.
“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,” Kanwar’s post read.
The granddaughter said her grandmother has been under observation in the ICU for two days and the left side of her body is losing strength. She also shared an image of the ticket, which mentions a special request for “wheelchair to aircraft door”.
Kanwar said that her grandmother was finally given a wheelchair, but she had to board the flight with a bleeding lip and injured head and nose as the airline did not arrange for a proper medical checkup.
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“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),” she added.
Kanwar said she was narrating the ordeal from an ICU, where her grandmother has been for two days. “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,” she wrote.
She further said the family has lodged complaints with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Air India and is awaiting action.
Air India Responds To The Post
Air India responded to the granddaughter’s post, saying it was “concerned to note” the incident and that it was “actively working on the concern” and assured that the details would be shared with the family at the earliest. It also wished speedy recovery to the old woman.
“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),” the airline wrote.
Kanwar shot back at Air India saying that she did not want the airline to call her without “due diligence and investigation”, to which the airline replied: “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.”
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