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India’s aviation security regulator has imposed a penalty of Rs3m (£28,700) on an airline after an 80-year-old man suffered cardiac arrest resulting from a delay in wheelchair service.
The Directorate Normal of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a present trigger discover to Air India final month for not complying with provisions for individuals with restricted mobility following the passenger’s dying.
Babu Patel and his spouse had requested their pre-booked wheelchairs upon their arrival on the Mumbai airport from New York on an Air India flight on 12 February.
The couple was requested to attend for help resulting from heavy demand for wheelchairs.
Whereas the lady was supplied with a wheelchair, Patel reportedly determined to stroll alongside his spouse as an alternative of ready additional.
Patel collapsed on his option to the immigration and was rushed to an area hospital, the place he was pronounced lifeless.
Following the incident, the Nationwide Human Rights Fee requested India’s aviation authorities to file an in depth report in 4 weeks and sought compensation for the bereaved household.
The regulator on Thursday stated the airline didn’t adjust to the provisions and take motion towards the “erring staff”. “The airline additionally didn’t submit any corrective motion taken to stop the recurrence of such incidents in future,” the DCGA stated in an announcement.
The regulator additionally issued an advisory to all airways to make sure ample wheelchairs had been obtainable for the passengers.
Air India responded to the present trigger discover saying that the airline was in “fixed contact with the members of the family of the bereaved, extending mandatory help.”
“Air India has a clearly laid down coverage to supply wheelchair help to each passenger who requisitions it throughout reservations.”
Earlier in January, a passenger on an Air India alleged she was served non-vegetarian meals – regardless of the packaging being labelled as meat-free.
Taking to X, Veera Jain shared photos of the in-flight meal she was given on board the Calicut-Mumbai flight.
In one of many photographs taken by Ms Jain, the meal packaging reads “veg principal meal” – however within the second picture, there may be hen served with the rice dish.
Air India additionally responded to the put up, with a consultant asking Ms Jain to contact them by way of direct message.
