An 82-year-old widow of a decorated Indian Army officer has been admitted to the ICU after suffering a severe fall at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The incident occurred on March 4 when Air India allegedly failed to provide her with a pre-booked wheelchair, forcing her to walk across the airport terminal despite her frail condition.
The elderly woman, identified as Aj Pasricha, was traveling to Bengaluru on an Air India flight when the ordeal unfolded. According to a social media post by her granddaughter, Parul Kanwar, the family had pre-booked a wheelchair for Pasricha, and the airline had confirmed the request. However, upon reaching the airport, no wheelchair was made available.
Kanwar described the distressing situation in a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that despite repeated pleas to Air India staff, the airport help desk, and even staff from another airline, no assistance was provided. “We tried for almost an hour, requesting airline staff, the airport help desk, and even an alternate airline, Indigo, which had a free wheelchair but wouldn’t share it,” Kanwar wrote.
With no other option, Pasricha, with the help of a family member, attempted to walk across three parking lanes at Terminal 3 of Delhi Airport. However, as she neared the Air India premium economy counter, she collapsed, sustaining injuries to her head, nose, and lips. Kanwar alleged that even after the fall, airline staff did not provide immediate medical assistance or first aid.
The family ultimately had no choice but to board Pasricha onto the flight without a proper medical checkup. It was only upon arrival in Bengaluru that she was attended to by a doctor and received two stitches. She is now undergoing treatment for potential brain bleeds in the ICU.
Complaint Filed with DGCA and Air India’s Response
Following the incident, Kanwar lodged a formal complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India. Responding to the social media outcry, Air India issued a statement on X, expressing regret over the incident and wishing Pasricha a speedy recovery.
“We are actively working on the concern and assure you that we will share the complete details at the earliest,” Air India said in its reply. The airline also sought to connect with Kanwar to investigate the issue further.
This incident has once again raised concerns over the treatment of elderly and disabled passengers at Indian airports, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of accessibility protocols and passenger rights.
Sources By Agencies