Forced to shift to bad quality wheelchair; ‘paralysed' printed
on boarding card
Even as
disability rights groups are still struggling with the government and private
airlines to ensure dignified travel for differently-abled persons, United
Nations Special Rapporteur Shuaib Chalklen has had a harrowing experience with
IndiGo on Thursday.
Mr.
Chalklen, a South African national, who took flight 6E 176 from Mumbai to
Delhi, said that despite his protests, he was forced to transfer from his
personal wheelchair to a bad quality airline wheelchair. There was no aisle
chair and he was bodily lifted from the wheelchair on to a seat in the first
row of the aircraft. However, a family to which the first row was allotted
insisted on occupying the allotted seats.
An
airline spokesperson said: “We are taking serious action against the IndiGo staff.
At IndiGo, we are committed to passenger comfort and safety, and above all, a
hassle-free travel experience… We regret the inconvenience caused to Mr. Shuaib
Chalklen.”
An
airline statement said Mr. Chalklen arrived in his own wheelchair to the check-in
counter. As it was slightly larger than the wheelchair IndiGo provided, it
couldn't pass through airport security. Mr. Chalklen was requested to move to
the ‘IndiGo wheelchair,' however he chose to use his own wheelchair and this
was refused by CISF personnel in the security area.
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