Jindal Blasts IndiGo Over Damaged Wheelchair on Goa-Delhi Flight

Industrialist and former Member of Parliament, Naveen Jindal, has sharply criticised budget carrier IndiGo after his daughter, Sminu Jindal, a prominent disability rights advocate, was returned her custom-built wheelchair in a severely damaged and “unusable” condition following a flight from Goa to Delhi. The incident, which Sminu Jindal detailed on social media, has ignited a fresh debate about the urgent need for better protocols and greater sensitivity from airlines in handling assistive devices for passengers with disabilities.

The damaged wheelchair was returned to Sminu Jindal after her IndiGo flight 6E 6264 from Goa to Delhi. Sminu, who is the Managing Director of Jindal SAW Ltd and founder of the disability rights non-profit Svayam, had been returning from the Purple Fest Goa—a festival dedicated to celebrating the independence and dignity of persons with disabilities.

Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sminu Jindal shared her anguish over the state of her wheelchair, which is custom-designed specifically for her spinal cord injury. “On my IndiGo flight… my custom wheelchair – built specifically for my spinal cord injury – was returned to me completely bent & unusable,” she wrote. She strongly emphasised that for a person with a disability, a wheelchair is “not just equipment – it is our mobility, our independence, our dignity. Once its frame is bent, it can never be repaired.”

Sminu Jindal highlighted that her experience was not an isolated incident, but a “repeated trauma that thousands of persons with disabilities face when they fly.” She called for the Civil Aviation Minister to intervene and urged airlines to take “urgent corrective action,” suggesting that carriers should create a “dedicated protected space” on flights for wheelchairs and ensure staff are properly trained and sensitised to handle assistive devices with the utmost care.

Echoing his daughter’s strong message, Naveen Jindal reshared her post, calling the incident “deeply concerning” and stating that it “reflects a larger systemic issue.”

“A wheelchair is not just mobility, it represents dignity and independence,” Naveen Jindal wrote. “Airlines must handle assistive devices with utmost care and respect. It’s time for stronger protocols and better sensitivity training.”

In response to the viral complaint, IndiGo issued an apology via social media, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused. The airline stated that they were “concerned to learn of your experience” and assured that the “matter is being reviewed diligently.” The carrier also confirmed that airport staff had immediately assisted Sminu Jindal by providing her with an alternative wheelchair and affirmed their commitment to ensuring the sensitive handling of all customers’ needs.

The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by passengers with reduced mobility while travelling and puts the spotlight back on airlines’ responsibility to ensure accessibility and respect for assistive devices. Disability rights advocates argue that for many, the wheelchair is an extension of their body, and damage to it can severely impact their daily life, underscoring the necessity for a shift in how such vital equipment is treated during air travel.