Mumbai, state-run Alliance Air's internal investigation has found that there was a delay by its ground handling agency in providing a wheelchair to an octogenarian passenger at Delhi airport this week, an incident for which The airline had apologized, according to a senior official.
Amid reports that there was a delay of around three to four hours in delivering the wheelchair to the passenger, the airline's investigation found that the wheelchair was available within an hour.
According to the investigation report, wheelchair assistance was provided to the passenger from disembarkation and the airline did not abandon the passenger at any point from disembarkation till his arrival at the exit of the terminal building at Delhi Airport, said the senior airline. the official said.
A social media post on July 8 alleged that an 84-year-old woman, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, had to wait more than three hours for a wheelchair on the airport tarmac after her arrival from Jaipur. on an Alliance Air. flight on July 7.
Following the publication, Alliance Air had "apologised" to the passenger and launched an investigation into the incident.
"It took the passenger 42 minutes, and not three hours as some newspapers report, to reach the exit of the terminal building with the luggage from the time the plane arrived (9:31 p.m.) at the remote bay of the Delhi airport on July 7," the official said, citing the investigation report.
After completing the disembarkation of the passengers, the first coach departed with all the passengers, except the wheelchair passenger and the co-pilot, his son, who were inside the plane while waiting for the wheelchair to arrive.
"Wheelchair assistance was provided to the passenger from disembarkation, from the crew van to the exit of the terminal (building)," the official added.
Additionally, the airline's investigation report said the assistance staff arrived at the ramp without the wheelchair.
The crew had requested the ground staff to get him a wheelchair, which was taking time and before a wheelchair could be brought from the terminal building, the co-pilot insisted on using his own wheelchair and He disembarked with his mother to save time. aggregate.
Meanwhile, the passenger's own wheelchair was recovered and handed over to her son on the ramp, but the cabin crew advised the passenger to wait until the time the ground staff would come to assist her.
As the bus was taking a long time to return to the parking lot, a passing van with cabin crew on board took the passengers to the arrival door of the bus and from there a helper and an assistant took them to the departure point while the companion picked them up. . luggage from the conveyor belt, according to the investigation report.
"Despite the findings of the investigation, we admit that our handling agent failed to place a wheelchair on the aircraft upon arrival and subsequently requested it, resulting in a delay in the passenger's disembarkation from the aircraft. "added the official.
Amid reports that there was a delay of around three to four hours in delivering the wheelchair to the passenger, the airline's investigation found that the wheelchair was available within an hour.
According to the investigation report, wheelchair assistance was provided to the passenger from disembarkation and the airline did not abandon the passenger at any point from disembarkation till his arrival at the exit of the terminal building at Delhi Airport, said the senior airline. the official said.
A social media post on July 8 alleged that an 84-year-old woman, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, had to wait more than three hours for a wheelchair on the airport tarmac after her arrival from Jaipur. on an Alliance Air. flight on July 7.
Following the publication, Alliance Air had "apologised" to the passenger and launched an investigation into the incident.
"It took the passenger 42 minutes, and not three hours as some newspapers report, to reach the exit of the terminal building with the luggage from the time the plane arrived (9:31 p.m.) at the remote bay of the Delhi airport on July 7," the official said, citing the investigation report.
After completing the disembarkation of the passengers, the first coach departed with all the passengers, except the wheelchair passenger and the co-pilot, his son, who were inside the plane while waiting for the wheelchair to arrive.
"Wheelchair assistance was provided to the passenger from disembarkation, from the crew van to the exit of the terminal (building)," the official added.
Additionally, the airline's investigation report said the assistance staff arrived at the ramp without the wheelchair.
The crew had requested the ground staff to get him a wheelchair, which was taking time and before a wheelchair could be brought from the terminal building, the co-pilot insisted on using his own wheelchair and He disembarked with his mother to save time. aggregate.
Meanwhile, the passenger's own wheelchair was recovered and handed over to her son on the ramp, but the cabin crew advised the passenger to wait until the time the ground staff would come to assist her.
As the bus was taking a long time to return to the parking lot, a passing van with cabin crew on board took the passengers to the arrival door of the bus and from there a helper and an assistant took them to the departure point while the companion picked them up. . luggage from the conveyor belt, according to the investigation report.
"Despite the findings of the investigation, we admit that our handling agent failed to place a wheelchair on the aircraft upon arrival and subsequently requested it, resulting in a delay in the passenger's disembarkation from the aircraft. "added the official.
