Airline refuses to fly Indian tourist home after stroke

An Indian tourist has been stranded in Adelaide since having a stroke in August, with an airline refusing to fly him home.
Sarwaruddin Syed, 77, arrived on a return ticket with Malaysia Airlines to visit his son and grandchildren.
He has been desperate to return to his home in Hyderabad, where he can access free medical treatment as a military service veteran.
His son, Nassir, 44, a chef with three children, has been paying his father's medical bills not covered by insurance, including several thousand dollars for two weeks in rehabilitation.
"Doctors have said he was medically OK to fly in September and he wanted to go home, but Malaysia Airlines wouldn't take him.
Malaysia Airlines says it does not have to honour Mr Syed's return flight ticket because he cannot walk unaided to his seat in the plane. Any refund can be accessed only when he returns to India.
Malaysia Airlines area manager SA Steve Abbott said according to medical advice, Mr Syed would need to be transported to his seat from his wheelchair via a hoist.
Although this was possible on the Adelaide-Kuala Lumpur leg of his flight, it was not possible on the Kuala Lumpur-Hyderabad leg, because the aircraft on that route did not have the hoist facility.
Mr Syed has booked a flight home with Singapore Airlines but cannot get a seat until January.
05/12/10 Sarah Mennie/News.com.au

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Categories: Foreign Dec 2010