82-Year-Old Woman Hospitalized After Alleged Denial of Wheelchair by Air India at Delhi Airport

New Delhi, March 8, 2025 – An 82-year-old woman was reportedly denied a pre-booked wheelchair at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on March 4, leading to her falling and sustaining serious injuries. The woman, the widow of a decorated Lieutenant General, was traveling with her family to Bengaluru from Delhi when the incident occurred.

According to Parul Kanwar, the granddaughter of the elderly woman, a wheelchair had been pre-booked with Air India well in advance, but the airline failed to provide the necessary assistance upon their arrival at the airport. Kanwar shared the details of the distressing incident in a post on social media, alleging that the family spent nearly an hour attempting to get help from Air India staff and even from employees of other airlines, including IndiGo, who reportedly refused to share their available wheelchair.

The elderly woman, unable to get the required assistance, was forced to walk across three parking lanes at Terminal 3 (T3) of the airport with the help of a family member. According to Kanwar, the woman eventually collapsed near the Air India premium economy counter, suffering severe injuries to her head and nose. Despite her condition, she was reportedly not provided with first aid, and Kanwar claims that the family had to seek medical assistance on their own.

Kanwar further described how the airline eventually provided a wheelchair but allowed her grandmother to board the flight without proper medical attention, even though she was still bleeding from her lip and had sustained injuries. On the flight, Air India’s crew provided some first aid in the form of ice packs and made arrangements for medical assistance at the destination airport in Bengaluru, where the woman received two stitches.

"Today, I sit here typing this from the ICU. She has been here for two days under observation for potential brain bleeds. My family watches as doctors administer medication while her left side weakens. From where we stand, it’s a long road ahead of pain and recovery which she did not deserve," Kanwar said, expressing her frustration with the treatment her grandmother received.

The incident has sparked outrage online, with Kanwar criticizing Air India for its lack of concern and assistance. She posted images of her grandmother from her grandson’s wedding just a day before the fall and emphasized the stark contrast between the joyful occasion and her grandmother's current state in the hospital.

In response to the allegations, Air India issued a statement expressing concern over the incident and wishing the woman a speedy recovery. The airline confirmed it would reach out to Kanwar for further discussion and investigation into the matter. "We are concerned to note this and wish Ms. Pasricha a speedy recovery," Air India said in its reply to Kanwar’s post. The airline also promised to investigate the incident and provide complete details soon.

Kanwar, however, rejected the airline's response, demanding a thorough investigation and accountability for the incident. "I am not interested in excuses. Air India should be ashamed," she stated.

The family has lodged a formal complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), as well as with Air India, and is awaiting further action.

This unfortunate incident adds to a string of recent complaints regarding Air India’s services, including a similar incident where Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized the airline for providing him with a broken seat on a flight from Bhopal to Delhi.

The DGCA and Air India are expected to address the growing concerns over the airline’s treatment of passengers, particularly those with special needs and elderly travelers.