Aviation regulator DGCA, on Friday, issued a show cause notice to Air India over the death of an 80-year-old passenger who collapsed and later died after walking from a plane to the terminal at the Mumbai airport as he did not get a wheelchair.
DGCA said issued a show cause notice to Air India for not complying with the provisions of the relevant Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), and asked the airliner to submit its response in seven days.
Further, the regulator also asked 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.
Air India said the passenger was asked to wait as there was a shortage of wheelchairs, but he opted to walk along with his spouse.
"One of our guests flying from New York to Mumbai on 12th February 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 opted to walk along with his spouse," an Air India spokesperson said.
"As advised by the airport doctor attending to him after taking ill, the passenger was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he was declared to have passed away," the spokesperson added.
