Government to issue notice to Air India over wheelchair issue

The Indian government is taking action against Air India after an elderly woman was not provided a pre-booked wheelchair at Delhi airport. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu announced that a show cause notice will be issued to the airline regarding this incident. The complaint centers on an 82-year-old woman who reportedly experienced difficulties at the airport on March 4. After her family pre-booked a wheelchair, it was claimed that she did not receive one for almost an hour. This led to her falling while trying to navigate the airport without assistance. The civil aviation regulator, DGCA, is investigating the matter and has already spoken with the passenger's family. They are also reviewing CCTV footage to understand what happened. Minister Naidu described the situation as "very unfortunate" and confirmed that the ministry is actively looking into the event. Air India has responded to the allegations, stating that the woman was not denied assistance and that first aid was provided after her fall. However, they acknowledged that the family reported needing a wheelchair at the PRM desk less than 90 minutes before her flight. The granddaughter of the passenger has expressed dissatisfaction and has filed complaints with both Air India and the DGCA.