An incident involving the damage of a customized wheelchair belonging to disability rights advocate Sminu Jindal has triggered a nationwide conversation on accessibility and dignity in air travel.
Jindal was returning from Goa to Delhi on October 10, 2025, after attending the Purple Fest Goa, a festival celebrating the rights and independence of persons with disabilities. Upon arrival at the Delhi airport on flight 6E 6264, operated by IndiGo, she received her custom-built wheelchair in a damaged condition.
“This is not an isolated case. It’s a repeated trauma that thousands of persons with disabilities face when they fly,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “A wheelchair is not just equipment — it is our mobility, our independence, our dignity. Once its frame is bent, it can never be repaired.”
What happened with my daughter @SminuJindal is deeply concerning and reflects a larger systemic issue.
A wheelchair is not just mobility, it represents dignity and independence. Airlines must handle assistive devices with utmost care and respect.
It’s time for stronger… https://t.co/KXBA0jkDoN
— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) October 12, 2025
Call for Government Intervention
Jindal urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to take corrective action.
“If wheelchairs must go into the aircraft belly, airlines must create a dedicated protected section and ensure staff are properly trained and sensitized,” she said, adding that the safety of assistive devices “is mandatory” as it directly affects passengers’ independence and quality of life.
Broader Concerns Over Accessibility
The incident has drawn significant attention online, with several public figures and commentators expressing concern over the treatment of passengers with disabilities.
Industrialist and former MP Naveen Jindal, Jindal’s father, described the incident as “deeply concerning” and reflective of a larger systemic issue. “A wheelchair is not just mobility, it represents dignity and independence. Airlines must handle assistive devices with utmost care and respect,” he said.
Investor Sunil Singhania criticized the airline for what he described as “arrogance” stemming from market dominance. “When monopolies get created, customer respect goes for a toss,” he wrote.
Economist Mohammad Faisal Ali Kawoosa highlighted additional challenges faced by passengers with reduced mobility, including the difficulty of accessing airport pickup points due to security protocols and infrastructure design.
Systemic Issues Highlighted
Public policy commentator Shashi Shekhar Pandey linked the incident to broader governance challenges. “This isn’t merely a lapse by the airlines—it’s symptomatic of a deeply flawed system pervasive across all sectors in India,” he said, pointing to the need for greater empathy and accountability.
Disability rights groups have long advocated for better handling of assistive devices during air travel. Experts emphasize that wheelchairs should not be treated as regular baggage but as essential mobility aids, requiring special handling procedures.
Regulatory Expectations
Current civil aviation guidelines already mandate airlines to provide assistance and ensure safe handling of mobility aids. However, disability rights advocates argue that implementation and enforcement remain inadequate.
Recommendations put forward include:
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Dedicated, protected storage areas for wheelchairs in aircraft
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Mandatory training and sensitization of ground and handling staff
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Faster compensation and replacement procedures for damaged devices
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Clear accountability mechanisms and penalties for violations
Growing Pressure on Airlines
This latest incident adds to a series of complaints from passengers with disabilities about damage to wheelchairs and other assistive devices during air travel. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has not yet issued a formal response to Jindal’s post.
IndiGo has faced criticism in the past over similar incidents, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of accessibility standards in aviation.
As pressure mounts from disability rights advocates, public figures, and travelers, the response from regulators and airlines will be closely watched in the coming days.
