A distressing incident unfolded on February 12th at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport when an 80-year-old man, accompanied by his wife in a wheelchair, tragically suffered a heart attack and passed away due to the unavailability of a wheelchair.
The octogenarian, who had arrived from New York on an Air India flight, had requested wheelchair assistance for both himself and his wife. However, upon arrival, only one wheelchair was provided, leaving the elderly man to walk approximately 1.5 kilometers alongside his wife. It was during this walk to the immigration counter that the man collapsed due to a heart attack.
According to reports, the shortage of wheelchairs resulted in only one wheelchair assistant being available for the couple. While the wife received the wheelchair, her husband opted to walk alongside her. Unfortunately, the strain of the walk proved fatal as he suffered a heart attack and collapsed near the immigration area.
The deceased, an Indian-origin US passport holder, had traveled in economy class on Air India flight AI-116. Shockingly, despite there being 32 wheelchair passengers on the flight, there were only 15 wheelchairs and accompanying staff available on the ground to assist them.
An Air India spokesperson expressed condolences and clarified that they had advised the passenger to wait for wheelchair assistance, given the heavy demand. However, the passenger chose to walk with his spouse, leading to the tragic outcome. Immediate medical attention was provided by airport staff, and the passenger was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Airport ground staff highlighted the common preference of elderly couples to stay together during airport transfers, especially when one spouse requires assistance. This sentiment underscores the emotional bond between spouses, often prioritized over individual comfort and convenience.
The delayed landing of the flight further compounded the situation, as the scheduled arrival time of 11:30 am was pushed to 2:10 pm due to unspecified reasons.
This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of ensuring adequate resources and support for passengers with mobility issues, particularly the elderly and those requiring special assistance. Efforts must be made to address logistical challenges and prioritize passenger well-being to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
