The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a hefty fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India following an incident at Mumbai airport where an 80-year-old passenger collapsed and later died after walking from the plane to the terminal due to the unavailability of a wheelchair.
The unfortunate incident occurred on February 12, prompting the aviation regulator to take swift action against the national carrier. A senior official from DGCA stated on Thursday that Air India failed to provide any wheelchair assistance to the elderly passenger, leading to the tragic outcome.
Furthermore, the official highlighted that Air India did not furnish any information regarding disciplinary action taken against the responsible employee(s) nor did it submit any corrective measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Earlier this month, DGCA had issued a show cause notice to Air India, to which the airline responded on February 20. Air India justified its actions by stating that the elderly passenger preferred to walk alongside his wife, who was also on a wheelchair, rather than wait for another wheelchair.
In response to the incident, DGCA has issued an advisory to all airlines, emphasizing the importance of ensuring an adequate number of wheelchairs for passengers requiring assistance during embarkation and disembarkation.