The government-run airline claimed a wheel chair was provided to the passenger at aircraft doorstep itself.
The government-run airline claimed a wheel chair was provided to the passenger at aircraft doorstep itself.
A disabled woman passenger has alleged she had to -"crawl-" to the passenger coach after deboarding an Air India plane as the carrier failed to arrange a wheel chair for her due to -"security-" reasons, a charge denied by the airline.
The government-run airline claimed a wheel chair was provided to the passenger at aircraft doorstep itself.
The incident took place yesterday when Anita Ghai, a Delhi University associate professor, landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi by Alliance Air (Air India's regional arm) from Dehradun and requested for a wheel chair.
-"I boarded this flight with four of my colleagues. Despite my repeated request, the (air) hostess did not cognize my requirement for a wheel chair after reaching. The flight reached at 7:30 pm. I waited patiently with one of my friends,-" she said.
-"At 8:15 pm, we realise that there was no chance of (getting) a wheel chair. The (passenger) coach came at 8.30 pm after repeated requests from the flight commander. Since security reasons are critical they made me crawl to go to the coach,-" she alleged.
-"We strongly deny the statement...We at Air India give utmost importance to passenger's safety and comfort,-" an Air India statement said.
The flight which operated on ATR aircraft landed in Delhi from Dehradun. Since it was parked at a distant bay it took some time to bring the wheel chair, the airline said.
-"Since passengers were getting down from the aircraft, our support staff actively helped the passenger to come out of the plane and the wheelchair was provided at the doorstep,-" Air India said. -"We deeply regret any inconvenience caused to the passenger,-" it added.
