The Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has directed Air India to pay ₹5 lakh in compensation to an 80-year-old woman with an 80% locomotor disability. The ruling follows an incident where she was deboarded from a domestic flight after being asked for a 'Fit-to-Fly' certificate, leading to distress and alleged damage to her powered wheelchair.
The Deboarding Incident and Wheelchair Damage
The passenger, Falguni Maheshwari, had successfully completed an Air India flight from Frankfurt to Delhi on May 26, 2026, without any medical objections. However, upon boarding her connecting flight from Delhi to Bhuj and taking her seat, cabin crew questioned her ability to travel independently and demanded a 'fit-to-fly' certificate.
Maheshwari was subsequently deboarded from the aircraft without receiving written reasons or an examination by an airport doctor. She was then compelled to arrange alternative travel, incurring additional costs and significant emotional distress. Adding to her ordeal, her powered wheelchair was allegedly returned in a damaged condition, severely impacting her mobility and independence.
Air India's Stance and CCPD's Findings
Air India defended its actions to the CCPD, stating that Maheshwari was not denied carriage due to her disability. The airline claimed its cabin crew observed her appearing extremely tired, suffering from a cough and cold, which raised concerns about her health and safety for the journey. Air India also noted that Maheshwari later obtained a 'fit-to-fly' certificate and was accommodated on the next available flight without extra charge, and offered to repair or compensate for the damaged wheelchair.
However, the CCPD found that Air India failed to prove that Maheshwari had undergone a proper medical assessment before being removed from the flight. The court also questioned the airline's demand for medical clearance for the domestic leg when she had just completed a much longer international journey without issue.
Upholding Disability Rights and Future Measures
In its September 24 order, the CCPD emphasized that accessibility, equality, non-discrimination, dignity, and reasonable accommodation are not concessions but statutory rights. The commission highlighted that a wheelchair is an essential assistive device directly linked to a person's mobility, independence, and dignity, and its damage cannot be treated as ordinary baggage loss.
Beyond the ₹5 lakh compensation for mental agony, humiliation, inconvenience, and financial hardship, Air India was also fined ₹50,000 for the deboarding incident. The CCPD recommended an internal inquiry by the airline, comprehensive staff training on disability rights, and proper handling procedures for assistive devices. Air India has been instructed to submit an action-taken report detailing the inquiry's findings, compensation disbursement, and remedial measures implemented.