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Indian para-athlete Suvarna Raj, the Korea Asian Para Games 2014 medalist was mistreated during her flight from Delhi to Chennai. Raj was flying with IndiGo Airlines on Friday, February when the crew members mistreated her. The Table Tennis athlete, seated on 39D on the flight, complained that her wheelchair wasn’t at the aircraft door despite asking many times and the crew didn’t respond well when she asked about the same at the aircraft door.
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In a video posted by the ANI, the athlete could be heard saying that such incidents have been happening to her over and over again. Raj told ANI, “I have realised that such incidents happen again and again. Whenever I take a flight, I always tell the crew members that I want my wheelchair in the aircraft only. I have done this so many times as I fly frequently. In two months I flew ten times and nine times I didn’t get my wheelchair.”
She added, “I asked the crew members to get me my wheelchair, and while they said yes, there was only a cabin wheelchair and not mine.”
They don't listen: Raj on repeated incidents of getting mistreated
The Thailand Para Table Tennis Open 2013 medalist opened up on the incident and said that no flight ever listens. In a video posted by her husband, she could be heard saying, "I was travelling with IndiGo, I told 10 times at Delhi Airport that I wanted my personal wheelchair at the aircraft door, but no matter how many times you tell IndiGo or any other airlines they don't listen. Look what they have done with my wheelchair.”
She added, “This wheelchair is worth 3 lakhs and it is made according to our needs. If you say something to them they say that it will go to (luggage) belt. If I am giving my wheelchair at the aircraft door then I should receive it there. I usually travel with IndiGo, even crew members don't listen and I told them when I sat in the plane as well as when I was about to get off the plane that please don't send my personal wheelchair anywhere and give it to me here. But they didn't listen.”
