Trump, Putin announce 'understanding' on Ukraine after Alaska summit    Al Nassr sign Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich in €30m deal    Saudi climate center launches project to digitize 73 years of weather records    Data centers to be expanded across UK as concerns mount    Saudi Arabia approves digital ID use for non-resident foreigners to own property    Civil Defense warns of heavy rains, flooding risk in parts of Saudi Arabia    31 Arab, Islamic nations condemn Netanyahu's 'Greater Israel' remarks and settlement expansion    Trump and Putin shake hands in Alaska for high-stakes summit    California governor unveils voting lines plan to counter Texas Republicans    Saudi Arabia launches media scholarship track to develop local talent    Des Buckingham takes charge of Al Kholood ahead of new RSL season    Music Commission to present 'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' at Palace of Versailles on September 5    AI designs antibiotics for gonorrhoea and MRSA superbugs    HONOR introduces HONOR Magic V5 foldable at a premium regional event in Dubai    Saudi referee Reem Al-Bishi selected for FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup in Philippines    Ministry announces new regulatory requirements for factories within and outside urban areas    Universal Inspection Co. Ltd. (UIC): Transforming industrial excellence with world-class precision    Al Nassr arrive in Hong Kong targeting Saudi Super Cup glory    Red Sea International achieves 44% growth in operating profits for H1 2025 The company announces Q2 2025 financial results    Baby Shark did not plagiarize, South Korea's top court rules    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Anger after India airline removes disabled teenager
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 05 - 2022

India's aviation minister has said he is investigating a domestic airline after it allegedly refused to let a disabled teenager board its flight.
The airline's staff told the teenager's parents that he was a risk to other passengers.
The incident sparked widespread outrage with many calling out the airline for discriminatory behaviour.
IndiGo has denied the allegations, saying it prides itself on being an inclusive organisation.
Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday promised "appropriate action", saying he was personally investigating the incident.
"There is zero tolerance towards such behaviour. No human being should have to go through this," he wrote on Twitter.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also sought a report from the airline.
The incident, which took place on Saturday at the Ranchi airport, came to light after one of the co-passengers, Manisha Gupta, wrote about it on Facebook.
Ms Gupta said that ahead of the flight, the teenager looked visibly distressed: "By the time he had gone through security check and reached the gate (almost an hour ahead of boarding), he seemed to be in the throes of hunger, thirst, anxiety and confusion."
She added that the parents had managed to placate his meltdown well, "with patience, some cajoling, some stern-ness, many hugs etc" and that other passengers also stopped by to offer help to the couple.
But when the IndiGo staff saw him, she says they warned the parents that they would not let them board, "if the child did not quieten down and become 'normal'".
"Then we witnessed the full display of brute authority and power. The Indigo staff announced that the child would not be allowed to take the flight. That he was a risk to other passengers. That he would have to become 'normal', before he could be travel-worthy," she wrote.
She added that other passengers on the flight opposed the staff and assured them that they had no objection to the child and his parents boarding the flight.
"A group of doctors, travelling on the same flight, offered to provide full support to the child and his parents if any health episode were to occur mid-air," Ms Gupta wrote.
But the airline held its ground, with its manager - according to Ms Gupta - insisting that the child was "uncontrollable" and "in a state of panic".
Ms Gupta's post has since gone viral, leading to widespread anger and condemnation.
IndiGo in a statement said it took the step for the sake of the safety of its passengers, adding that it made the family comfortable by providing them a hotel stay and that they flew the next morning to their destination.
"We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers. IndiGo prides itself on being an inclusive organisation, be it for employees or its customers; and over 75,000 specially abled passengers fly with IndiGo every month," it said.
India has more than 26 million people living with physical or learning disabilities, but there is little infrastructure to support them in their everyday life.
Campaigners say disabled people also routinely face stigma, discrimination and harassment.
In 2019, a disability activist and polio survivor was asked to remove her trousers at the Kolkata airport. Two years before that, a female para-athlete was forced to sleep on the floor of a train as she had been allotted an upper berth against the rules. — BBC


Clic here to read the story from its source.