IndiGo Airlines Damages Disability Advocate Sminu Jindal's Custom Wheelchair During Flight - MP Naveen Jindal Demands Action

The incident took place on October 10 when Sminu Jindal was traveling from Goa to Delhi on an IndiGo flight.

Industrialist and Kurukshetra MP Naveen Jindal has publicly criticized IndiGo Airlines after his daughter Sminu Jindal's custom wheelchair was damaged during their Goa-Delhi flight. Sminu, a well-known advocate for disability rights, was returning from Purple Fest Goa, an event dedicated to promoting dignity and independence for individuals with disabilities.

Sharing her experience on social media platform X, Sminu expressed her distress over the mishandling of her specially designed wheelchair, describing it as more than just equipment but a symbol of "mobility, independence, and dignity." She emphasized that such incidents represent a recurring trauma experienced by thousands of disabled travelers.

"On my @IndiGo6E flight 6E 6264 (Goa–Delhi), my custom wheelchair — built specifically for my spinal cord injury — was returned to me completely bent & unusable. This is not an isolated case. It's a repeated trauma that thousands of persons with disabilities face when they fly. A wheelchair is not just equipment — it is our mobility, our independence, our dignity. Once its frame is bent, it can never be repaired," she stated in her social media post.

In her message, she also appealed to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, calling for stronger guidelines regarding the handling of assistive devices during air travel. "If wheelchairs must go into the aircraft belly, airlines must create a dedicated protected section & ensure staff are properly trained and sensitized...Safety of assistive devices is mandatory. Somebody's life & life's earnings depend on it," she added.

Her father, Naveen Jindal, reinforced her concerns by highlighting the systemic issues facing passengers with disabilities. He wrote, "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 protocols and better sensitivity training."

In response to the situation, IndiGo Airlines issued an apology, stating they were reviewing the matter. The airline mentioned that airport staff had assisted Sminu by providing an alternative wheelchair and attempted to contact her for further discussion.

"Dear Ma'am, we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. We remain fully committed to ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey for all our customers and deeply value your feedback. We understand the importance of an assistive device and assure you that we remain available to extend any support you may require. Our airport team had also endeavoured to offer immediate assistance by providing an alternate wheelchair and ensuring every possible comfort. We tried reaching you as well, however, we have been unable to establish contact. We would be most grateful for an opportunity to speak with you at a convenient time to address your experience in greater detail," read their response.