Wheelchair not provided, 82-yr-old passenger collapses at Delhi airport, hospitalised

However, in a statement, the Air India said the passenger had arrived at the terminal much later than the recommended two hours before departure.

“Family members/relatives accompanying the passenger had reported at the PRM (Person with Reduced Mobility) desk located near Air India’s ticketing office less than 90 minutes before the scheduled time of departure to request for a wheelchair…”

“Due to the unprecedented peak demand at that hour, a wheelchair could not be made available within the 15 minutes that the passenger’s relatives spent waiting for it. The claims of the passenger having waited for an hour for the wheelchair are baseless,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Kanwar’s post said that left with no choice, the octogenarian attempted to walk across the parking lanes of Terminal 3 with support from a family member. Upon entering the airport also, she still did not receive assistance. Eventually, her legs gave way, and she collapsed in front of the Air India premium economy counter.

“We requested first aid, but no one assisted. Instead, we were asked to go to the Medical Inspection (MI) room ourselves to get help,” the post said.

“Finally, the wheelchair arrived, and she was promptly boarded without a proper check-up with a bleeding lip and injury to her head and nose. On flight, crew did help with ice packs and called ahead to Bangalore airport for medical aid, where she was seen by a doctor and given two stitches,” it added.

While the family claimed that after the woman collapsed, no Air India staffer stepped in to help, the airline said in its statement: “On their own accord, the passenger decided to walk along with those accompanying her. She unfortunately suffered a fall in the airport premises. Upon noticing the incident, officials of the Delhi Airport, as well as the airport doctor on duty immediately attended to her and administered first aid… We understand that the doctor’s offer for additional medical attention was not accepted and the guest’s family members insisted on continuing their travel to Bengaluru.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, a relative of the woman said, “She has shown signs of progress today and has been moved from the ICU to normal ward. She could take up to three months to recover.”

The family has filed complaints with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Air India, demanding accountability. “We want all airlines to work in coordination with the airport authorities to make the lives of mobility-challenged people easier. They need to coordinate with each other; currently each airline is left to their own,” the relative added.