New Delhi: A disabled woman has alleged she had to "crawl" from an Air India plane to a passenger coach after the carrier failed to arrange a wheelchair due to "security" reasons, a charge denied by the airline.
The government-run airline claimed a wheelchair was provided to the passenger as she disembarked the aircraft.
The incident took place on Friday when Anita Ghai, a Delhi University associate professor, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport by Air India's regional arm Alliance Air and requested a wheelchair.
She said: "I boarded this flight with four of my colleagues. Despite my repeated request, the hostess did not recognise my requirement for a wheelchair.
"At 8.15pm, we realised there was no chance of getting a wheelchair. The coach came at 8.30pm after repeated requests from the flight commander. Since security reasons are critical, they made me crawl to the coach."
Air India 'strongly' denied the allegation in a statement, which said: "We at Air India give utmost importance to passenger's safety and comfort.
"Since it was parked at a distant bay, it took some time to bring the wheelchair.
"Since passengers were getting down from the aircraft, our support staff actively helped the passenger to come out of the plane and the wheelchair was provided at the doorstep.
"We deeply regret any inconvenience caused to the passenger."
