IndiGo: Anger after India airline removes disabled teenager
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India’s aviation minister has announced that he is looking into a domestic carrier that allegedly refused to allow a crippled youngster to board a flight.
The airline informed the teen’s parents that he posed a threat to other travellers.
The incident prompted a significant uproar, with many people accusing the airline of being prejudiced.
IndiGo has disputed the charges, claiming that it takes pride in being an inclusive company. Jyotiraditya Scindia, the aviation minister, promised “necessary action” on Monday, saying he was personally investigating the issue.
The airline has also been asked to submit a report to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The incident occurred on Saturday at the Ranchi airport and was made public after one of the passengers, Manisha Gupta, posted about it on Facebook.
“By the time he had gone through the security check and reached the gate (almost an hour ahead of boarding), he seemed to be in the throes of hunger, thirst, worry, and disorientation,” Ms Gupta said of the adolescent before the flight.
However, she claims that when the IndiGo personnel noticed him, they informed the parents that they would not be allowed to board “until the boy quieted down and became ‘normal’.”
Ms Gupta’s post has since gone viral, eliciting significant condemnation and outrage.
IndiGo stated in a statement that it took the action to ensure the safety of its passengers, adding that it provided the family with a hotel stay and that they flew to their destination the next morning.
More than 26 million people in India have physical or learning disabilities, but there is insufficient infrastructure in place to help them in their daily lives.
According to activists, disabled people are frequently subjected to stigma, discrimination, and harassment.
At the Kolkata airport in 2019, a disability activist and polio survivor were asked to lower her trousers. Two years prior, a female para-athlete was forced to sleep on the railway floor after being given an upper berth in violation of the rules.
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