Stranded heart patient, husband forced to book another flight: Airline to pay Rs 7.7 lakh

An Indian couple, one of whom suffered from an acute heart ailment, were stranded in the USA due to an international airline's failure to provide timely assistance, prompting a consumer commission in Amritsar to order the airline to pay Rs 7.69 lakh, including a refund and compensation. The couple's daughter's health conditions worsened, and she was diagnosed with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (CAD) in the USA.

The husband repeatedly requested rescheduling of their flight due to his wife's medical emergency, yet the airline rejected multiple requests, citing incomplete medical forms and insufficient time for approval. Eventually, the family booked alternative flights on another airline, incurring additional costs. The commission ruled that the airline was responsible for providing adequate medical assistance to the patient and failed to do so, resulting in the couple being unable to return to India as planned.