IndiGo Airlines issued an apology on Saturday following accusations of mistreatment by para-athlete Suvarna Raj during a flight. The airline emphasized its commitment to inclusivity and stated that it is taking the matter seriously. In a public statement, IndiGo Airlines said, “We reaffirm our commitment to being an inclusive airline and are dedicated to addressing this matter promptly.” The airline is currently in contact with Raj and is conducting a thorough investigation. They also expressed regret for any inconvenience caused, asserting their dedication to maintaining high standards of customer service.
Suvarna had booked seat number 39D(Aisle) on the Chennai-bound flight on Friday. I did it a thousand times before,” the para-athlete said while speaking to ANI on Saturday. Suvarna, who has represented the country in global events, alleged that she was mistreated by IndiGo crew members while taking a flight from New Delhi to Chennai. She accused that despite her request to provide a personal wheelchair at the aircraft door, the staff did not respond. “The airlines have been courting infamy with such incidents time and time again. Whenever I board a flight, I make it a point to request the crew members for a personal wheelchair at the aircraft door. “However, on numerous occasions, I did not get a wheelchair at the aircraft door. Why? Whenever I asked for my wheelchair at the aircraft door, the crew would say, ‘Yes ma’am’. However, there was no wheelchair except the one in the cabin,” she added. “My wheelchair was damaged. Indigo should pay for the damage to my wheelchair and I want it to be restored to its old state. If the airlines have a policy to provide wheelchairs to differently-abled patients, why did they break protocol time and again?
She further claimed that the personal wheelchair, which cost Rs 3 lakh, was damaged by the airline crew. It cost me Rs 3 lakh. Suvarna won two medals in the 2014 Asian Para Games in Korea while also clinching two medals at the Thailand Para Table Tennis Open in 2013. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The government should take strict action and check why such incidents are happening so often,” Suvarna said.
