{"id":56915,"date":"2024-02-16T13:40:57","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T08:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=56915"},"modified":"2024-02-16T13:41:01","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T08:11:01","slug":"air-india-passenger-on-new-york-mumbai-flight-dies-due-to-unavailability-of-wheelchair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/16\/air-india-passenger-on-new-york-mumbai-flight-dies-due-to-unavailability-of-wheelchair\/","title":{"rendered":"Air India Passenger on New York-Mumbai Flight Dies Due to Unavailability of Wheelchair"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MUMBAI-<\/strong> A passenger traveling with Air India (AI)<\/a> from New York (JFK)<\/a> sadly passed away at Mumbai airport (BOM)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident occurred on February 12th when an 80-year-old passenger collapsed while having to walk approximately 1.5 kilometers from the plane to the immigration counter due to a shortage of wheelchairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: avgeekwithlens\/ Harsh Tekriwal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Air India Passenger Dies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The deceased passenger, of Indian origin, was accompanied by his wife on flight AI116 <\/strong>from New York to Mumbai. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a Times of India report, the couple had pre-booked wheelchair assistance, but due to a shortage, only his wife received the wheelchair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 80-year-old chose to walk alongside his wife, and upon reaching the immigration counter, he collapsed, reportedly due to a heart attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the wheelchair shortage, an airport source informed TOI, “There were 32 wheelchair passengers on this flight, but only 15 wheelchairs with accompanying staff were on the ground, waiting to assist them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: avgeekwithlens\/ Harsh Tekriwal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Official Remarks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On February 16th, the airline issued a statement regarding the incident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Air India spokesperson mentioned that, due to a high demand for wheelchairs, the passenger was asked to wait until wheelchair assistance could be provided. However, the passenger chose to walk alongside his spouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spokesperson stated, “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 until 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Air India to Pay 60,000 Compensation to Couple for Broken Seats on New York-Delhi Flight<\/a><\/blockquote>