Mumbai: Air India slapped with Rs 30 lakh fine over octogenarian’s death

Due to Air Indiarsquos lack of wheelchairs at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport an 80yearold passenger died last month while making his way from the aircraft to the terminal The Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA sent Air India a showcause notice demanding a response within seven days Upon reviewing the latterrsquos reply the regulatory body on Thursday declared the airline accountable and levied a Rs 30lakh fineThe incidentOn February 16 after landing on an Air India flight from New York the octogenarian requested a wheelchair at the airport but decided to walk as he was asked to wait due to heavy demand for wheelchairs The deceased was an Indianorigin US passport holder The wheelchair facility had been prebooked An airline spokesperson at the time of the incident disclosed that the passenger was immediately rushed to the hospital after collapsing during the immigration process where he was declared to have passed awayldquoThere were 32 wheelchair passengers on this flight but only 15 wheelchairs with accompanying staff on the ground to help themrdquo said an airport official requesting anonymity According to data from air traffic control sources the New YorkMumbai flight was scheduled to land at 1130 am but it landed late at 210 pmAlso Read Air India plys nations first Airbus A350 from Bengalurus KIA to MumbaiSenior PI Dhananjay Sonawane from Sahar police station said ldquoThe passenger was identified as Manubhai Patel The cause of death was found to be a cardiac arrest He was rushed to Nanavati Hospital where he was declared deadrdquo Air India in a statement after the incident said ldquoOne of our guests flying from New York to Mumbai fell ill while proceeding to clear immigration with his wife who was in a wheelchair Due to heavy demand for wheelchairs we had requested the passenger to wait till he was also provided with wheelchair assistance but he chose to walk with his spouserdquoRepercussions of rulingIn response to the DGCArsquos notice the airlines submitted a reply on February 20 which stated that Patelrsquos wife was given a wheelchair and crew members asked him to wait while they arranged for another one But he decided to walk with his wife to the terminal instead The DGCA found that Air India had not complied with a regulation Carriage by Air Persons with Disability Divyangjan andor Persons with Reduced Mobility outlined in the Aircraft Rules 1937On Thursday the DGCA issued a statement that read ldquoA showcause notice was issued to Air India for not complying with the provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements CAR SECTION 3 SERIES lsquoMrsquo PART I on lsquoCarriage by Air Persons with Disability Divyangjan andor Persons with Reduced Mobilityrsquo which is a violation of Aircraft Rules 1937 sicrdquoA DGCA official said ldquoThe airline failed to show compliance with the CAR as it did not provide any wheelchair to the elderly passenger Further it did not inform about any action taken against the erring employees The airline also failed to submit any corrective actions taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the futurerdquo According to Air India it is in touch with the family members of the deceased extending necessary assistance and it has a policy to offer wheelchair assistance to all passengers who prebook itWheelchair assistanceAccording to DGCA guidelines it is solely the responsibility of airlines to provide passengers with a wheelchair The body has also issued an advisory to all airlines stressing the need to ensure an adequate number of wheelchairs for passengers requiring assistance while embarking or disembarking from aircraftAn official of Mumbai International Airport Limited MIAL said ldquoWheelchair assistance is a service purely given by the airline At the terminal wheelchair inventory and manpower assistance are managed by the airlinersquos groundhandling staff Airport operators only help coordinate with the airline in case any passenger requires helprdquoVarious opinionsA ground staffer said ldquoOften aged couples especially those with mobility issues and hearing problems arenrsquot comfortable with briefly parting and travelling alone from the aircraft to the terminalrdquo Another claimed itrsquos a wellknown industry secret that many passengers seeking wheelchair assistance donrsquot have any mobility issues ldquoOver a decade ago airlines charged for the wheelchair facility Only those with a medical certificate were provided one for free Then following pressure from various groups this requirement was done away withrdquo said a senior airline officialFeb 16Day incident occurred