Air India Fined ₹30 Lakh for Wheelchair Lapse Resulting in Passenger's Death

On February 12, an unfortunate incident unfolded at Mumbai airport when an 80-year-old passenger, arriving on an Air India flight from New York, collapsed and died after suffering a heart attack. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has now fined Air India ₹30 lakh, citing the airline's lack of adequate wheelchairs as a violation of civil aviation requirements.

The DGCA issued a statement asserting the imposition of the financial penalty on Air India under the Aircraft Rules, 1937. The penalty was imposed for the airline's failure to adhere to the prescribed civil aviation requirements, leading to the tragic incident at Mumbai airport.

The regulatory body has also extended its advisory to all airlines, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring an ample number of wheelchairs for passengers requiring assistance during embarking or disembarking from the aircraft throughout their journey. This move underscores the importance of prioritizing the accessibility and safety of passengers with special needs.

The incident prompted the DGCA to take swift action against Air India, as the elderly passenger faced difficulties allegedly due to the unavailability of a wheelchair, resulting in him walking 1.5 km and subsequently suffering a heart attack.

While an official statement from Air India is awaited, the DGCA revealed that the airline had been issued a show cause notice earlier for non-compliance with the civil aviation requirements concerning the carriage of persons with disabilities or reduced mobility.

The airline responded on February 20, asserting that the elderly passenger had chosen to walk alongside his wife, who was in a wheelchair, rather than wait for an additional wheelchair. However, the DGCA maintained that Air India failed to demonstrate compliance with the prescribed civil aviation requirements, as they did not provide a wheelchair to the elderly passenger.

Furthermore, the regulatory body highlighted Air India's failure to report any actions taken against the responsible employee(s) and the absence of information regarding corrective measures implemented to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

This incident sheds light on the critical need for airlines to prioritize and adhere to safety protocols, especially concerning the assistance and accommodation of passengers with specific requirements. The DGCA's actions serve as a reminder to the aviation industry to ensure the well-being and comfort of all passengers, preventing unfortunate incidents that compromise passenger safety.

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