DGCA notice to Air India after passenger’s death due to wheelchair ‘shortage’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 16

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday issued a show-cause notice to Air India following the death of an 80-year-old passenger who died at Mumbai airport.

According to reports, octogenarian Babu Patel and his wife Narmadaben Patel, 76, had both requested wheelchairs for assistance upon disembarking from Air India's AI-116 flight from New York. However, due to a shortage of wheelchairs, both of them had to walk around 1.5 km from the plane to the immigration counter. Patel died at the time of the immigration process.

A show-cause notice has been issued to the airline for not complying with the provisions and in violation of Aircraft Rules, 1937, and asked to submit a reply to the DGCA within seven days.

Further, an advisory has also been issued to all airlines to ensure that an adequate number of wheelchairs are available for passengers who require assistance during embarking or disembarking from the aircraft during their journey.

In a statement on Friday, Air India said due to heavy demand for wheelchair, it had requested the passenger to wait for an airline staff-assisted wheelchair, but he opted to walk along with his spouse.

“In an unfortunate incident, one of our guests flying from New York to Mumbai on February 12, fell ill while proceeding to clear immigration with his wife, who was on a wheelchair,” the airline said.

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