A video circulating on X alleging misuse of airport wheelchair assistance on India-US routes has drawn a sharp response from Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw who called for imposing a hefty fee for the service which is currently provided free.
The original content, posted by a user on the platform, shows a lengthy queue of passengers seated in wheelchairs while airport staff guide them through the terminal. The caption, written in Chinese, translates to, “The departure lounge for flights between the US and India is filled with Indian passengers in wheelchairs. Because disabled travellers receive priority boarding and full assistance throughout the journey, some routes now see up to 80% of passengers classified as ‘disabled.'”
🇺🇸🇮🇳美印航線候機大廳，全是坐輪椅的印度人。
November 13, 2025
因為殘疾旅客可以享受優先登機、全程接送等服務，導致部分航線“殘疾”旅客比例高達 80%。🤔 pic.twitter.com/tQ0F32E55NAnother user reshared the clip, claiming that Air India faces an unusually high demand for wheelchair services on long-haul flights. The user wrote, “Air India says 30% of passengers on India-US flights ask for wheelchairs. Most are able-bodied travellers scamming the priority boarding system. Real disabled passengers get left short.” The video has so far garnered 11.5 million views.
Air India says 30% of passengers on India-US flights ask for wheelchairs.
Most are able bodied travelers scamming the priority boarding system.
Real disabled passengers get left short.
pic.twitter.com/OtdMXITcHgNovember 15, 2025AdvertisementThe conversation widened further when Mazumdar-Shaw commented on the viral footage. Sharing the clip on her own account, she wrote, “They should charge an additional Rs 5,000 per airport and then they will see how many genuine passengers there are!”
They should charge an additional ₹5000 per airport n then they will see how many genuine passengers there are! https://t.co/U12fJwBTtx
November 16, 2025AdvertisementHer post has since gained strong traction, crossing 3.47 lakh views and prompting a wave of replies across the platform.
One user said that families were using the service to help elderly parents navigate airports rather than exploit priority access. “It is not about walking, it is about the process,” the user wrote. The user also highlighted that many elderly passengers “don't know English and don't know where to go.”
It is not about walking it is about the process. Most indian parents don't know english and dont know where to go so their children book wheelchair so they can go to security clearance, terminal change and baggage collection area without tension.
See all the people above are…November 16, 2025 Another user wrote on similar lines, saying that children arrange wheelchairs just to make airport transfers easier for their parents. The user said that “doting children… organise this for their parents,” even though “most are fit.”
It's the doting children in the US and India organizing this for their parents so they do not have to deal with transfers. The chair is meant for the disabled. Some are aged parents with real problems. But most are fit. But when do rules come in the way?! Disabled is just a…
November 16, 2025AdvertisementOne of the comments referenced international practice, saying that “in Germany they started charging and people stopped asking,” and added that many NRIs book wheelchairs to “make the immigration process smooth.”
In Germany they started charging and people stopped asking. Most of the time it's NRI who invite parents they want to make immigration process smooth for parents and skip lines. NRIs should let their parents have adventure and figure out the challenges that come with entering new…
November 16, 2025Many users also raised concerns that widespread misuse could affect those who genuinely rely on such support. A user said that “this will eventually hurt the passengers who genuinely need it,” suggesting that “civic awareness” instead of penalties would be more effective.
This will eventually hurt the passengers who genuinely need it. Instead of moving towards extra fees, we should educate people through government initiatives so they do not opt for these services when they are not truly required. The focus should be on civic awareness.
November 16, 2025From the replies, it seems clear that the situation is far from straightforward, as rising wheelchair requests at major airports in India have become a concern for airlines.
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