New Delhi, India: A disability rights activist, who is visually and hearing impaired, was made to deboard an AirAsia flight at Pune airport Friday following the airline’s opinion that the passenger was incapable of travelling alone – even as the activist insisted otherwise and showed relevant documents to back his claim, reports Indian Express.
The incident happened evening of August 30 when Zamir Dhale, 44, was on his way to Delhi from Pune to catch a flight to Geneva where he had to address a meeting of disability experts organized by the United Nations (UN). Dhale is the founder of the Society for Empowerment of the Deaf-Blind, and almost always uses public transport without any assistance.
While AirAsia India sent him in another flight to Delhi that was two hours later and he managed to catch the flight to Geneva.
“The irony of the incident is not lost on me. I was on my way to advocate for the rights of the disabled at the UN while I was myself being discriminated against. But then this was nothing new. I felt sad and helpless. However, I am not deterred. I have to continue to fight not only for myself but all such deaf-blind people like me,” told Dhale.
