The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined Air India Rs 30 lakh for the recent death of an 80-year old passenger. The passenger chose to walk from the aircraft to the terminal due to a shortage of wheelchairs. An advisory has also been issued to all airlines to ensure that an adequate number of wheelchairs are available for passengers who require assistance.
MUMBAI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has levied a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India over the recent death of an 80-year old passenger who opted to walk from the aircraft to the terminal building as the airline had a shortage of wheel chairs.
Following a report carried in the TOI on February 16, the regulator had issued a show cause notice to the airline for not complying with the provisions of the “CAR SECTION 3, SERIES ‘M’, PART I on ‘Carriage by Air – Persons with Disability (Divyangjan) and/or Persons with Reduced Mobility’ which is a violation of Aircraft Rules, 1937.”
Air India submitted its response to the notice on February 20. The airline informed that the elderly passenger wished to walk along with his wife who was on a wheelchair too, rather than wait for another wheelchair.
“However, the airline failed to show compliance of the CAR as the airline did not provide any wheelchair to the elderly passenger. Further, Air India did not inform about any action taken by the airline against the erring employee(s) and the airline also failed to submit any corrective actions taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future,” said the DGCA in a press statement. “Accordingly, 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 CAR,” it added.
An advisory has also been issued 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.
On February 12, the 80-year old US citizen of Indian origin, along with his wife had flown to Mumbai from New York on an Air India flight. Both had booked for the wheelchair facility, but because of a shortage of wheelchairs, only one was brought for the couple. The senior citizen was asked to wait for another wheelchair. But opted to walk alongside his wife who used the wheelchair. He walked the long distance to the terminal collapsed and passed away at the airport immigration counter.
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On February 20, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognizance of the passenger’s death. The NHRC issued a notice to the DGCA seeking a report in four weeks’ time.
source by: The Times of India News
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