Wheelchair accessibility in airports is a critical aspect of ensuring equal access to air travel for all people. However now, Arushi Singh, an X user, recently revealed her unpleasant experience at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, prompting significant criticism. Her post about her hardship at the Kolkata airport soon went viral, infuriating many people.
Wheelchair-Bound Passenger Shares Her Experience
Yesterday evening during the security clearance at Kolkata airport, the officer asked me (a wheelchair user) to stand up, not once but thrice. First she asked me to get up and walk two steps into the kiosk. (1/1)
— Arushi Singh (@singhharushi) February 1, 2024
Arushi Singh took to X, claiming that airport personnel in Kolkata instructed her to stand up even though she was in a wheelchair. This incident occurred during the airport security clearance process. Singh’s tweet about her ordeal on the microblogging platform quickly went viral and elicited several responses. Many others found the airport staff’s actions ‘disgusting and despicable’.
Singh described the incident in detail, including how the security guard had her rise and enter the kiosk. “Yesterday evening during the security clearance at Kolkata airport, the officer asked me (a wheelchair user) to stand up, not once but thrice,” Singh wrote. She told the police that her condition prevented her from complying, but she received the same response.
When the police once more insisted that Singh stand for just two minutes inside the kiosk, the atmosphere became more heated. Singh had to stress again that standing was not an option for her due to her congenital impairment. Singh was shaken and enraged by the airport staff’s lack of sensitivity and understanding.
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Netizens Share Their Views
Expressing her shock at the occurrence, Singh also tagged the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in her post. She criticised the Kolkata airport for failing to learn from its failures in the past and made it clear that this was not an isolated incident.
Originally published on February 1st, it has been viewed more than 91,000 times since it was shared. Numerous people also shared their thoughts in the post’s comments section.
While some airports excel in providing comprehensive accessibility services, others lag, leaving passengers with disabilities facing barriers to access and inclusion. Someone commented, “@aaikolairport has a special ability to make life inconvenient for all. The administration is so lazy. I was travelling with both my parents in wheelchairs and the entire experience was a nightmare.” Another said, “There are many problems in Kolkata Airport, very callously handled.”
Wheelchair-sensitive behaviour from airport officers is paramount to ensuring a positive and respectful travel experience for passengers with disabilities.
Cover image credits: Canva; X/Arushi Singh
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