DGCA levies fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India for failing to provide adequate wheelchair

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a financial penalty of Rs 30 lakhs on Air India following a February 16 incident of non-availability of a wheelchair to an 80-year-old passenger who collapsed and died after walking from the aircraft to the airport terminal at Mumbai.

The incident happened at the airport on February 12 after the passenger landed in an Air India flight from New York.

A financial penalty of Rs.30 lakh has been imposed on Air India as per Aircraft Rules, 1937 for violating the provisions of the aforementioned regulations, DGCA said in a statement Thursday.

DGCA has also issued an advisory to all airlines to ensure that an adequate number of wheelchairs are available for passengers who require assistance during embarking or disembarking from the aircraft during their journey.
The regulator had earlier issued a show cause notice to the airline after the incident.
In its response, Air India said that the elderly passenger wished to walk along with his wife who was in a wheelchair too, rather than wait for another wheelchair.

A wheelchair couldn't be made immediately available as there were 15 wheelchairs dedicated to passengers of the aircraft whereas there were 32 wheelchairs required.
DGCA said that Air India also didn't take any action to ensure that such incidents don't happen in future.