82-Year-Old Woman Falls, Hospitalised After Air India Denies Pre-Booked Wheelchair

Elderly woman, widow of a decorated Lt. General, suffers injuries at Delhi Airport after waiting over an hour for a wheelchair. Air India responds, says it is “actively working on the concern.

March 8, 2025: 82-Year-Old Woman Falls, Hospitalized After Air India Denies Pre-Booked Wheelchair

Elderly woman, widow of a decorated Lt. General, suffers injuries at Delhi Airport; Air India faces backlash over negligence. An 82-year-old woman is currently in the ICU after she fell at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (T3) when Air India allegedly failed to provide a pre-booked wheelchair.

The widow of a decorated Lieutenant General, Raj Pasricha, had waited for over an hour for the promised wheelchair before she was forced to walk with assistance. She ultimately collapsed near Air India’s premium economy counter, suffering injuries to her head, nose, and lip.

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Her granddaughter, Parul Kanwar, took to social media platform X to expose the ordeal, accusing the airline of failing to provide immediate medical assistance.

“No One Helped” – Family Recounts the Trauma

Ms. Kanwar described the distressing scene:

“Not one person stepped in to help. We requested first aid—no help. Air India staff expected a family member to go to the medical inspection (MI) room to get assistance instead of helping themselves.”

After a long delay, a wheelchair finally arrived, and Ms. Pasricha was boarded onto the flight without a proper medical check-up, despite visible bleeding.

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“Onboard crew provided ice packs and alerted Bangalore airport, where she received two stitches,” Kanwar wrote.

“Long Road to Pain and Recovery”

Ms. Kanwar’s grandmother has been under ICU observation for potential brain bleeds, with her left side showing signs of weakness.

“My parents watch as doctors pump her with medication. From where we stand, it’s a long road of pain and recovery that she did not deserve,” she wrote.

The family has filed complaints with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India, demanding action.

Air India’s Response

Air India issued a statement on X, acknowledging the incident:

“Dear Ms. Kanwar, we are concerned to note this and wish Ms. Pasricha a speedy recovery. We’d like to connect with you over a call in this regard.”

Ms. Kanwar rejected an immediate call, demanding a proper investigation before outreach.

In a follow-up, Air India assured:

“We are actively working on the concern and will share details at the earliest.”

Rising Concerns Over Passenger Treatment

This incident adds to growing concerns over accessibility and customer service in Indian aviation, particularly for elderly and differently-abled passengers.

With Air India facing backlash, the question remains—will stricter regulations ensure such incidents don’t happen again?

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#AirIndia, #PassengerRights, #ElderlyCare, #WheelchairDenied, #DelhiAirport, #AviationNews, #CustomerService, #PassengerSafety, #AirlineAccountability, #TravelNews