Air India flags 'mass misuse' of wheelchairs

This slows down support for those who genuinely need it

- BY MANJUSHA RADHAKRISHNAN

A viral video showing dozens of seemingly able-bodied passengers being rolled through an airport in wheelchairs has reignited a debate about the misuse of disability assistance on international flights — and it’s now forced Air India to issue a clarification.

According to Air India, nearly 30% of passengers on India—US flights now request wheelchairs, but many don’t actually need them. The airline says this behaviour is slowing down support for those who genuinely require help. In fact, Air India is handling over 100,000 wheelchair requests every month, creating significant delays and stretching manpower.