A String of Disasters: Recent Incidents When Air India Let Down Its Passengers

New Delhi: Air India is under fire after the airline denied a pre-booked wheelchair to an aged woman, as a result of which she fell at the airport and is undergoing treatment in the ICU. 

The airline, in an official statement, has refused to accept the blame and has decided to counter the passenger. Amid this recent horrific incident, take a look at a string of disasters by Air India, when the airline let down its passengers. 

Also Read: Air India Under Fire After 82-Year-Old Falls at Delhi Airport, Lands in ICU; Airline Responds

A String of Disasters: Recent Incidents When Air India Let Down Its Passengers

Air India has found itself in a controversy several times in the recent past. On and off, passengers have complained about the airline's services. These glaring botch-ups have been highlighted by both dignitaries including top politicians and the common passengers.

Air India Denies Pre-Booked Wheelchair to 82-Year-Old Passenger, She Lands Up in Hospital

The first incident is the one that happened on Friday, and has stirred up a massive controversy. An 82-year-old woman, who had pre-booked a wheelchair for herself and had gotten a confirmation for the same, was denied the wheelchair by the airline. The aged woman, who is a widow of a decorated Lieutenant General, had to walk at the airport because of which she fell and was seriously injured; her granddaughter, Parul Kanwar shared the harrowing ordeal of her grandmother with her disturbing photos from the hospital. 

The airline has refused to accept their fault and in an official statement, has decided to counter the passenger. In response to public backlash, an Air India spokesperson defended the airline, explaining that the family had arrived after the suggested check-in time and assuring that wheelchair assistance was never withheld at any stage.

Chicago-Delhi Air India Flight Returned to US City Due to Clogged Lavatories?

An Air India flight AI126, from Chicago to Delhi, was in the air for more than 10 hours and then returned to the US city due to a ‘technical issue' as per the airline. However, a source familiar with the issue, told PTI that the flight, airborne for over ten hours, returned to O'Hare International Airport, because of clogged lavatories. According to the source, of the ten lavatories in the plane, including those for first class passengers, only one was functional. 

‘If There Was An Oscar Equivalent for Worst Airlines, Air India Would Win’: Jaiveer Shergill

Less than a week ago, Supreme Court lawyer and BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill expressed his disappointment and called Air India the ‘worst airline’ ever. Calling out Air India's broken seats, poor crew, ‘pathetic’ on-ground support staff and customer service, Jaiveer Shergill said in a post on ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter), “If there was an Oscar equivalent for WORST AIRLINES Air India would win hands down in every category.”

Apologising to the BJP national spokesperson, Air India requested him to share his travel details and assured him that he would look into the matter.

Also Read: Furious Jaiveer Shergill Blasts Air India Over Broken Seats And Pathetic Staff, Calls It 'Worst Airline'

'Seat Was Broken and Sunken In, Uncomfortable to Sit': Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Last month, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had also called out Air India for its poor condition and services. After a poor experience on a Bhopal-Delhi Air India flight AI436, the Union Minister said, “Today I had to come from Bhopal to Delhi, inaugurate the Kisan Mela in Pusa, hold a meeting of the Natural Farming Mission in Kurukshetra and discuss with the honourable representatives of the Kisan Organisation in Chandigarh. I had booked a ticket on Air India flight number AI436, I was allotted seat number 8C. I went and sat on the seat, the seat was broken and sunken in. It was uncomfortable to sit. When I asked the airline staff why the seat was allotted to me if it was bad, they told me that the management had been informed earlier that this seat was not good and its ticket should not be sold.”

He further said, “There is not just one such seat but many more. My co-passengers requested me to change my seat and sit on a better seat, but why should I trouble another friend for my sake, I decided that I would complete my journey by sitting on this same seat. My impression was that Air India's service would have improved after Tata took over the management, but it turned out to be my misconception. I don't care about discomfort in sitting but it is unethical to make passengers sit on bad and uncomfortable seats after charging them the full amount. Isn't this cheating the passengers? Will the Air India management take steps to ensure that no passenger faces such inconvenience in future or will it continue to take advantage of the passengers' compulsion to reach their destination early?”

Also Read: If Airline Charges Money, It Must Provide Proper Facilities: Chouhan On Air India's Broken Seat Row

Once again, the airline apologised to the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and said in a post on ‘X’, “Dear Sir, we apologize for the inconvenience caused. Please be rest assured that we are looking into this matter carefully to prevent any such occurrences in the future. We would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you, kindly DM us a convenient time to connect.”

Over 100 Passengers Stuck in Phuket For Over 80 Hours After Repeated Delays

Air India passengers have often complained about massive flight delays that have left them stranded, mostly inside the flight, or at the airport. In one such incident reported in November last year, over 100 passengers on a Delhi-bound flight from Phuket, were stranded at Phuket due to repeated delays caused by ‘technical faults’. The passengers were made to stay in Phuket for over 80 hours. The airline apologised to the passengers and also provided them with accommodation.