The journey of Sminu Jindal, a passionate advocate for persons with disabilities and participant in the recent Purple Fest Goa, took a deeply distressing turn upon her return flight from Goa to Delhi on October 10, 2025. Her custom-built wheelchair, essential for her spinal cord injury, was returned to her completely bent and unusable after the IndiGo flight (6E 6264). This incident, shared publicly on social media, has ignited a vital conversation about the systemic failure of the airline industry, and indeed, broader Indian society, to ensure dignity, independence, and respect for people with disabilities.
Her father, Naveen Jindal, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the incident reflects a “larger systemic issue.” Their frustration underscores the fact that the failure to handle assistive devices with utmost care is a profound lapse in respecting human dignity.
More Than Just Equipment: A Matter of Independence
As Ms. Jindal powerfully articulated, a wheelchair is far more than mere equipment—it is mobility, independence, and dignity. For a person with a disability, a custom-built chair represents a significant personal and financial investment; once its frame is bent, it is often irreparable. This damage is not an isolated mechanical error; it is, as she described, a “repeated trauma” thousands of travelers with disabilities face.
Calls for Systemic Change and Intervention
The public outcry following Ms. Jindal’s post points to an urgent need for corrective action at the policy level. Ms. Jindal has strongly urged the Hon’ble Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram MNK Ji and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA_GoI) to intervene.
Key demands for airlines, specifically IndiGo, include:
- Dedicated Protected Section: A compulsory, dedicated, and protected area within the aircraft belly for assistive devices like wheelchairs.
- Proper Training and Sensitization: Mandatory training for all ground and baggage handling staff on the careful, sensitive, and respectful handling of assistive devices.
- Stronger Protocols: A clear and enforceable set of procedures to ensure the safety of assistive devices is mandatory, recognizing that “Somebody’s life & life’s earnings depend on it.”
As prominent financial commentator Sunil Singhania noted, the issue also raises questions about customer respect when dominant players are perceived to display “arrogance and complete disregard” for their customers.
The Broader Accessibility Challenge in India
The damaged wheelchair incident serves as a painful microcosm of India’s larger accessibility crisis. The conversation broadened as other individuals shared their experiences of systemic neglect.
Mohammad Faisal Ali Kawoosa brought up the difficulties faced by people with reduced mobility even at airports, citing the long walks required to reach multilevel parking for booked cabs at Delhi Airport. This highlights that accessibility challenges are not limited to flying; they permeate the entire travel experience.
Shashi Shekhar Pandey summarized the general feeling of disappointment, stating that the airline’s lapse is “symptomatic of a deeply flawed system pervasive across all sectors in India.” The sentiment reflects a societal need for introspection on fundamental human values like empathy, justice, fairness, and respect.
The ordeal Ms. Jindal experienced is a forceful reminder that true inclusion and dignity in travel can only be achieved when policies move beyond mere compliance to a genuine, sensitive recognition of the needs of every traveler. The ball is now firmly in the court of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and airline operators to enact and enforce the stronger protocols necessary to end this “repeated trauma.”
What do you think is the single most effective policy change that airlines could implement immediately to protect assistive devices?
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
