Wheelchair Shortage Claims Octogenarian’s Life At Mumbai Airport

Mumbai: In a tragic incident, an 80-year-old man, who had travelled on an Air India flight from New York to Mumbai, passed away at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport after walking 1.5 km from the plane to immigration counter due to shortage of wheelchair.

The elderly person, identified as a US passport holder of Indian origin, was travelling with his wife. He was taken to Mumbai airport medical facility and later shifted to Nanavati Hospital.

Although the couple had pre-booked wheelchairs, only the wife received one. The octogenarian walked beside his wife and upon reaching the immigration counter, suffered a heart attack and collapsed.

There were 32 passengers requiring wheelchairs on the flight, but only 15 wheelchairs accompanied by staff were available on the ground to assist them, Times of India reported.

An Air India spokesperson said, “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. 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.”

“Those with mobility issues, hearing problems prefer to stay with each other when moving from the aircraft through the terminal building,” a ground staffer said.