Senior citizen to be compensated by Air India for Dabolim mishap

Panaji: Air India on Thursday said it would compensate a couple from Altinho-Mapusa after the wife fell off a faulty wheelchair provided by the airline at the Dabolim airport and sustained several injuries.
According to the woman's husband, Carlos Mauricio d'Abreu Noronha, 76, the incident took place in March. "My wife Maria Ester Fausta da Costa d'Abreu Noronha, 76, and I had travelled from Mumbai to Goa on March 14 by Air India. On arrival at Dabolim airport, my wife was carried on a wheelchair. We had almost reached the baggage room when the right arm of the wheelchair gave way and my wife fell to the ground and had acute pain on the right thigh," he said.
Maria Ester was taken to Grace Hospital, Margao, by an ambulance where an X-ray revealed she had suffered three fractures. She was operated upon and a plate was fixed on her thigh with 15 screws, her husband added.
"I was told at the airport that all good wheelchairs are reserved for tourists, while the other passengers are given rickety wheelchairs, like the one given to my wife," Noronha said.
"I fell on the floor. I was later told by the people at the airport that the wheelchair was broken," Maria Ester told TOI.
"The airport must have good wheelchairs for the elderly, as it is impossible for us to walk the long distance from the aircraft to the baggage retrieval area. The authorities concerned must take more care while dealing with elderly peoplem who are carried on wheelchairs in future," said Maria Ester, "I must say though that the airline staff were very concerned and helpful," she added.
22/05/09 Times of India

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Categories: Airports May 2009, NACIL May 2009