CCPD Court Fines Air India ₹50K for De-Boarding Disabled Woman, Damaging Wheelchair

The Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons With Disabilities (CCPD court) recently imposed a ₹50,000 fine on Air India for regulatory violations, apart from recommending that it pay ₹5 lakhs as compensation to a disabled woman for de-boarding her from the plane without reasons. The order was passed on September 24 by the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities S Govindaraj on a complaint by Falguni Maheshwari.Maheshwari, a wheelchair-bound woman with 80 percent locomotor disability, flew from Frankfurt to India in May 2026 on an Air India flight.However, she was de-boarded from a connecting flight that was to take her from Delhi to Bhuj without providing any written reasons.The complainant also alleged that her wheelchair was returned in a damaged condition. She stated that she was forced to arrange alternative flights at her own expense under severe emotional distress.Air India stated that de-planing the woman regulatory necessity solely on safety grounds. It stated that at the time of boarding, the woman was displaying certain medical concerns.The airline added that under its safety procedures, she was required to be accompanied by an escort and produce medical clearance to fly.The CCPD court questioned the airline on its insistence on a fit-to-fly certificate from the woman, particularly when she had already completed the preceding Frankfurt–Delhi journey.“The Court further notes that the Complainant had already incurred the airfare and had been permitted to board