Banning a disabled teenager from boarding a plane sparks outrage in India
India's aviation minister has confirmed that a local airline is being investigated after reports of its refusal to allow a disabled teenager to board its plane.
And airline staff told the teen's parents that he posed a danger to other passengers, according to the reports.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, with many condemning the airline for its "discriminatory" behaviour.
Indigo denied the allegations, saying it was proud to welcome everyone, and Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia promised to take "appropriate action", saying he was personally investigating the incident, according to the BBC.
"We will have zero tolerance for such behaviour," he wrote on Twitter.
No one should face such behavior.”
The General Administration of Civil Aviation also requested a report from the airline.
The incident, which occurred last Saturday at Ranchi airport, was revealed after a passenger on the plane, Manisha Gupta, wrote about it on Facebook.
Before the flight, Gupta said, the teenager appeared to be in palpable distress, and "after passing the security check and reaching the gate, about an hour before boarding the plane, he appeared to be hungry, thirsty, anxious and disoriented."
She added that his parents managed to calm the boy down "with patience, some courtship, some strictness, kindness and so on" and that some other passengers also stopped to help the couple.
She said that when Indigo employees saw the boy, they warned the parents that they would not let them on the plane "if the child did not calm down and become 'normal'".
"We have seen the full display of power and strength," she said.
Indigo staff announced that the boy would not be allowed to board the flight.
and that it poses a danger to other passengers.
And that he must become "normal, before he is allowed to travel."
She added that the other passengers on the plane opposed the staff and assured them that they had no objection to the child and his parents getting on the plane.
"A group of doctors, traveling on the same flight, offered to fully support the child and his parents in case of any outbreak in the air," Gupta wrote.
Gupta said the airline was resolute in its stance, with its manager insisting the child was "uncontrollable" and "in a state of panic".
Gupta's post went viral, resulting in widespread outrage and condemnation.
Indigo said in a statement that it took this step for the safety of its passengers, adding that it made the family feel comfortable by providing them with accommodation in a hotel, and that they traveled the next morning to their destination.
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