Services crippled, no helping hand for disability activist

New Delhi: Disability rights activist Javed Abidi got a taste of the Maharaja's hospitality when he arrived at the integrated terminal 3 to catch a flight to Mumbai on Saturday morning. Abidi, himself in a wheelchair, was left all alone at the boarding gate for over four hours without food or water after his flight was delayed. The trauma did not end there — when Abidi finally boarded the flight, the aisle chair that is required for a handicapped passenger in the economy class was not available and only shortly before the flight departed, an executive class passenger, an Air India personnel, gave her seat to him.
Abidi, on his way to Mumbai for an important meeting, arrived at the IGI Airport around 11.30am to catch the flight IC 887 that was scheduled to depart at 1pm. Abidi checked in and was taken to the boarding gate by an airline attendant who initially waited with him but when the flight was delayed, the attendant said he would return in time for boarding.
Finally, after the attendant didn'come for help, another official wheeled Abidi to the aircraft for boarding. However, once in the aircraft, they realised that the special aisle chair meant for wheelchair users in the aircraft, was also missing.
14/11/10 Neha Lalchandani/Times of India

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Categories: Air India Domestic Nov 2010, Air India Nov 2010, Airports Nov 2010