Air India fined ₹50k, asked to pay ₹5 lakh to wheelchair user de-boarded from Delhi-Bhuj flight

New Delhi: The Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has fined Air India ₹50,000 for regulatory violations and recommended ₹5 lakh compensation for a wheelchair user who was de-boarded from a Delhi-Bhuj flight without being given written reasons.

The order was passed on September 24 by Chief Commissioner S Govindaraj on a complaint filed by Falguni Maheshwari, who has an 80% locomotor disability.

Maheshwari had travelled from Frankfurt to India on an Air India flight in May 2026. However, she was later de-boarded from her connecting Delhi-Bhuj flight. She also alleged that her wheelchair was returned damaged and that she had to arrange alternative travel at her own expense.

Air India said the decision was taken on safety grounds, claiming that Maheshwari had displayed certain medical concerns while boarding. The airline said its procedures required her to travel with an escort and provide medical clearance.

The CCPD court questioned the airline’s demand for a fit-to-fly certificate, noting that Maheshwari had already completed the Frankfurt-Delhi journey. It also observed that Air India’s medical officer had not examined her and that the decision was based on visual observations by crew members.

The court also took serious note of the damage to Maheshwari’s wheelchair, describing it as an essential assistive device vital to her mobility, independence and dignity. It said such damage could not be treated like ordinary baggage loss.

The court held that the incident caused Maheshwari mental harassment, humiliation, inconvenience and distress, and that reimbursement of expenses alone would not adequately address the loss of dignity.

Besides the ₹50,000 fine, the CCPD recommended that Air India pay Maheshwari ₹5 lakh for the mental agony, humiliation, distress and inconvenience she suffered.

The court also recommended an internal inquiry into the incident and directed the airline to submit an action-taken report. It further advised Air India to train and sensitise its personnel on disability rights, reasonable accommodation, non-discrimination, medical clearance procedures and the handling of assistive devices. DeshGujarat