Army officer's elderly widow lands in ICU after Air India refuses to provide pre-booked wheelchair

An 82-year-old widow of a decorated Indian Army officer is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with potential brain bleeds after a distressing incident at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Raj Pasricha, who had pre-booked a wheelchair for her Air India flight to Bengaluru on March 4, was allegedly denied assistance, forcing her to walk long distances until she collapsed.

According to her granddaughter, Parul Kanwar, the airline had confirmed the wheelchair request in advance. However, upon arrival at the airport, no wheelchair was provided.

"We tried for almost an hour, pleading with airline staff, the airport help desk, and even an alternate airline, Indigo, which had a free wheelchair but refused to share. With no other choice, this frail elderly woman had to walk across three parking lanes at Terminal 3, assisted by a family member," Kanwar wrote on X.

Despite her struggle, the Air India staff allegedly failed to provide any assistance. Ultimately, Pasricha’s legs gave way, and she collapsed near the airline’s premium economy counter, sustaining injuries to her head, nose, and lips.

Negligence allegations and onboard medical aid

Even after the fall, the family claims that airline staff did not provide immediate medical aid, and she was boarded onto the flight without a proper checkup, despite her visible injuries. It was only mid-flight that the crew provided ice packs and alerted medical personnel at the Bengaluru airport. Upon arrival, she was given two stitches and later admitted to the ICU for further treatment.

A formal complaint has been lodged with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air India.

Air India responds

Air India responded to Kanwar’s post on X, wishing her grandmother a speedy recovery and requesting contact details to investigate the complaint.

"Dear Ms. Kanwar, we sincerely wish your grandmother a speedy recovery. We are actively working on the concern and assure you that we will share the complete details at the earliest," the airline stated.

The incident has sparked outrage over the treatment of elderly and disabled passengers, raising serious concerns about accessibility and passenger care in Indian aviation.