Mumbai: Comedian and actor Vir Das has called out Air India after a harrowing experience aboard flight AI816, where his injured wife, despite having a broken leg and a pre-booked wheelchair, was left to descend the aircraft steps without proper assistance upon landing in Delhi.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, Das voiced his frustration with the airline, revealing that he received “clueless stares from the cabin crew” when he asked for the wheelchair service that had been pre-arranged. He added that his wife ultimately had to climb down the aircraft stepladder with a fractured foot.
In his post, Das said he didn’t want to go public but felt compelled to do so. “Despite paying ₹50,000 per seat, we got broken tables, broken legrests, a seat stuck in recline, and no basic support for an injured passenger,” he said, describing the condition of the flight and the treatment they received.
Air India issued a statement acknowledging the incident and offered an explanation, saying, “We empathize with the guests, especially given the mobility concern involved, and recognize that this experience fell short of expectations.”
The airline clarified that wheelchair assistance was not denied but delayed due to “unusually high demand for wheelchairs and staff at that time.” They further stated that the cabin crew had offered to help and deplane using an ‘ambulift’ as per standard operating procedures (SOP).
Air India also reiterated its commitment to improving accessibility and passenger comfort, following the backlash.
