BENGALURU: An unpleasant scene unfolded at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru around 4am Wednesday when the ground staff of IndiGo allegedly forced a 57-year-old disabled passenger out of a wheelchair owned by the airline because he was flying rival carrier Go First to Kolkata with his wife and son to attend the family patriarch’s funeral. IT professional Rajiv Dey, 31, his father Gopal Dey and mother Bharati were scheduled to take the Go First flight G8 790. Gopal is paralysed following a road accident five years ago and has limited mobility in his left leg.
His wife and son had to walk him past security checks and other procedures, and the delay resulted in Rajiv missing the flight. The international airport doesn’t offer wheelchairs and passengers are forced to rely on their airlines.
“No amount of shouting or pleading or offering to pay the fee helped. My mother and I were forced to hold my dad and walk him past security and all the way to the boarding gate,” said Rajiv, whose attempts to locate another wheelchair went in vain.
