Air India REACTS To Allegations Of Elderly Woman Getting Injured As Wheelchair Denied By Airline; Claims ‘Late Arrival’

Elderly Woman Falls At Delhi Airport After Air India Allegedly Denies Pre-Booked Wheel Chair, Hospitalised; Airline Responds | X

New Delhi: A day after a passenger levelled allegations against Air India that her grandmother fell and got injured after a pre-booked wheelchair was not provided to her, the airline responded on Saturday. The Tata group-owned airline on Saturday said the passenger and her family members reported at the desk less than 90 minutes before the scheduled time of departure to request a wheelchair.

It added that a wheelchair could not be provided due to unprecedented peak demand at that hour. Notably, the 82-year-old elderly woman, Raj Pasricha, is the widow of an Indian Army officer.

Air India’s Statement:

“The said passenger, travelling with her family members, had arrived at the departure terminal much later than the recommended 2 hours before departure. Family members accompanying the passenger had reported at the PRM(Person with Reduced Mobility) desk located near Air India’s ticketing office less than 90 minutes before the scheduled time of departure to request for a wheelchair,” an Air India spokesperson said.

“Due to the unprecedented peak demand at that hour, a wheelchair could not be made available within the 15 minutes that the passenger’s relatives spent waiting for it. The claims of the passenger having waited for an hour for the wheelchair are baseless,” the spokesperson added.

“On their own accord, the passenger decided to walk along with those accompanying her. She unfortunately suffered a fall in the airport premises. Upon noticing the incident, officials of the Delhi Airport, as well as the airport doctor on duty immediately attended to her and administered first aid. We understand that the doctor’s offer for additional medical attention was not accepted and the guest’s family members insisted on continuing their travel to Bengaluru. Through this process, Air India staff were courteous, escorted them from immediate check-in through to priority security check and boarding. The passenger was also provided all possible care during the flight from Delhi to Bengaluru,” the spokesperson highlighted.

The Airline further claimed that the family was provided an escort and taken for further medical attention on reaching the Bengaluru Airport “Upon reaching Bengaluru, as requested by the family members, the guest was escorted by our staff for further medical attention in the Bengaluru Airport premises, and later also escorted until the drop-off point. At no point was the wheelchair or any assistance denied to the passenger. Air India’s staff cooperated with the guests through their journey. We have reached out to the guest’s family and pray for her wellbeing.” the Air India spokesperson said.

Parul Kanwar, the granddaughter of the elderly woman, alleged in an X post that a wheelchair was pre-booked with the airline. The woman is the widow of a Lieutenant General.

Kanwar alleged that her grandmother had to walk for some distance inside the airport with the help of a family member and she collapsed near a counter of the airline. She reportedly suffered severe injuries. Kanwar further claimed that even first aid was not provided and she boarded the plane with injuries to her head and nose and bleeding lips.

The elderly woman is reportedly in the intensive care unit (ICU). In response to Kanwar’s post Air India said that “it was “concerned to note” the incident. The airline also wished for the speedy recovery of the woman.

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