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

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India for not arranging a sufficient number of wheelchairs, after a February 12 incident where an 80-year-old passenger who walked from an aircraft to the airport terminal in Mumbai collapsed and died.

The passenger had landed in Mumbai on an Air India flight from New York.

The penalty has been imposed for violating provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, the Civil aviation regulator said in a news release Thursday.


It 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 an aircraft.

After the incident, the regulator had issued a show cause notice to the Tata Sons-owned airline.

In its response, Air India said that the elderly passenger wished to walk along with his wife who was also in a wheelchair, rather than wait for another wheelchair.


A wheelchair couldn't be made immediately available as only 15 wheelchairs were dedicated to the passengers of the aircraft, whereas 32 were required.