An 80-year-old man, who had arrived on an Air India flight from New York with his wife, died after collapsing at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Monday.
The octogenarian collapsed after he had to walk around 1.5 km from the plane to the immigration counter due to a shortage of wheelchairs.
The couple had pre-booked wheelchairs but only the wife received one, reported TOI.
The man was walking alongside his wife and as they reached the immigration counter, he collapsed due to a heart attack.
Air India spokesperson said, “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 till 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.”
Wheelchair shortage
The deceased, identified as an Indian-origin US passport holder, was travelling in economy class on Air India flight AI-116 from New York to Mumbai.
An airport source told TOI, “There were 32 wheelchair passengers on this flight, but only 15 wheelchairs with accompanying staff on ground waiting on ground to help them.”
Air India was in constant touch with family members to extend any required assistance, the spokesperson told TOI.
A ground staff told TOI, “We’ve often found that aged couples aren’t comfortable parting with the spouse and travelling alone from the aircraft to the airport terminal. Those with mobility issues, hearing problems prefer to stay with each other when moving from the aircraft through the terminal building.”
The flight was supposed to land in Mumbai at 11:30am but was reportedly delayed and landed at 2:10pm.
